Mission, Motto and Creed
The FFA Mission
The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of young people by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
The FFA Motto
The FFA motto gives members twelve short words to live by as they experience the opportunities in the organization. Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.
To accomplish this mission, FFA:
- Develops competent and assertive agricultural leadership.
- Increases awareness of the global and technological importance of agriculture and its contribution to our well-being.
- Strengthens the confidence of agriculture students in themselves and their work.
- Promotes the intelligent choice and establishment of an agricultural career.
- Encourages achievement in supervised agricultural experience programs.
- Encourages wise management of economic, environmental and human resources of the community.
- Develops interpersonal skills in teamwork, communications, human relations and social interaction.
- Builds character and promotes citizenship, volunteerism and patriotism.
- Promotes cooperation and cooperative attitudes among all people.
- Promotes healthy lifestyles.
- Encourages excellence in scholarship.
FFA Creed
I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds - achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.
I believe that to live and work on a good farm, or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny.
I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others. I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly, with such knowledge and skill as I can secure, and in the ability of progressive agriculturists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil.
I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining; in the life abundant and enough honest wealth to help make it so--for others as well as myself; in less need for charity and more of it when needed; in being happy myself and playing square with those whose happiness depends upon me.
I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task.
**The creed was written by E. M. Tiffany, and adopted at the 3rd National Convention of the FFA. It was revised at the 38th Convention and the 63rd Convention.
FFA Code of Ethics
We will conduct ourselves at all times in order to be a credit to our organization, chapter, school and community by:
- Dressing neatly and appropriately for the occasion.
- Showing respect for the rights of others and being courteous at all times.
- Being honest and not taking unfair advantage of others.
- Respecting the property of others.
- Refraining from loud, boisterous talk, swearing and other unbecoming conduct.
- Demonstrating sportsmanship in the show ring, judging contests and meetings.
- Being modest in winning and generous in defeat.
- Attending meetings promptly and respecting the opinion of others in discussion.
- Taking pride in our organization, activities, supervised experience program, exhibits, and the occupation of agriculture.
- Sharing with others experiences and knowledge gained by attending national and state meetings.
- Striving to establish and enhance my skills through agricultural education in order to enter a successful career.
- Appreciating and promoting diversity in our organization.
