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T H E G R E E N H AND A STORY OF THE F. F. A. by PAUL W. CHAPMAN THE GREEN HAND A S T O R Y O F T HE F. F. A . by PAUL W. CHAPMAN State Director of Vocational Education for Georgia; formerly president of the American Vocational Association, the National Association of State Directors of Vocational Education, the Vocational Department of the National Education Asso- ciation, State Supervisor of Agricultural Education for Georgia, State Supervisor of Agricultural Education for Missouri, State Adviser for the Georgia Asso- ciation of the Future Farmers of America CHICAGO PHILADELPHIA Fred appealed to them with all the fervor of one who wishes to acknowledge a debt of gratitude (Page #) J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY DEDICATED TO HENRY GROSECLOSE the far-visioned cavalier from Virginia who gave a new meaning to F. F. V. and conceived the plan which led to the organization of the Future Farmers of America. PREFACE HIS story is fiction. I do not know Fred Dale, nor have I had the pleasure of meeting Walter TLangford. Yet, having spent some time with them -- sharing their successes and disappointments, I feel that they are real people. If I never meet them in my travels one thing, at least, is certain -- I shall meet many teachers of vocational agriculture, who, like Langford are exerting a great influence for good in the lives of the boys with whom they come in contact. And I shall know boys like Fred who are not perfect but who, through the inspiration that has come into their lives after joining the F.F.A., are laying the foun- dation for successful careers. And these boys are so interesting! I already know hundreds of them. I have taken the liberty to put real people in this story. Why not? There are John L. Butts of Miami and Henry Groseclose of Virginia. What is said about them is true. The yacht, for example, was built by the boys in the Dade County Vocational School. It was not the Sally May, however. There are others -- Senator Capper, Secretary Hyde, John F. Case -- all of whom vii played the roles in real life which are assigned to them in this story. My purpose in writing this story is to try to bring to others something of the feeling of enthusiasm which the Future Farmers of America have brought to me. Through the F.F.A. I see a chance for boys to develop CONTENts that intensity of interest and degree of self-reliance CHAPTER PAGE which is essential to success. I. AN INTERRUPTED BANQUET ............................ 1 PAUL W. CHAPMAN. II. THE DEER HUNT ......................................... 17 Athens, Georgia. III. CONVALEscENCE ......................................... 31 IV. THE TRiaL .................................................. 47 V. A NEW “GREEN HAND” ............................... 63 VI. FUTURE FARMERS as TOURisTS .................... 79 VII. HOMEWARD BOUND ..................................... 95 VIII. BORROWING MONEY .................................. 129 IX. FORMER CONTESTANTS MEET AgaiN .......... 113 X. AN IMPORTANT DiscOVERY ........................ 147 XI. STATE FUTURE FARMERS MEET .................. 163 XII. A FINANciaL CRisis ................................. 183 XIII. NATIONAL F.F.A. CONVENTION .................. 197 CHAptER I AN INTERRuptED BANQUET ISTEN, Bill!” cautiously whispered the lad “ who seemed to be the leader of the group. L“When the big guy with the blonde mop gets up to speak, you wait till he gets going good and then throw a couple of those six-inch salutes in the window right behind him. Understand?” “Sure. I got you,” Bill replied in a subdued voice. “And Tom, you hide around on the other side of the house and when things quiet down after Bill throws the firecrackers and they get started again you open up with your automatic.” Tom and Bill laughed and slapped each other on the back, thinking of the consternation that would be cre- ated when the plan was put into operation. “Shh!” warned Fred Dale, the boy who was work- ing out the campaign. “Do you want ‘em to hear us and come out here and spoil everything?” After that the boys were quiet for a few moments and concentrated on watching the scene within the schoolroom where the father and son banquet given by the Future Farmers of America was in progress. THE GREEN HAND AN INTERRuptED BANQUET “But what are you going to do?” Bill inquired at the girls retired to the doorway of the classroom which Fred. “Are we going to pull all the dirty work and you was temporarily serving as a kitchen. just sit here and enjoy it?” The men and boys who were to be the guests at the “Don’t worry about me,” replied Fred, “I’m going to banquet were gathered about in small groups. Most of do plenty. Listen! Here’s just one of my ideas. I’ll hide them seemed ill at ease. Apparently they did not know behind this clump of pine seedlings and see what goes what to do with themselves. Few of the men had been on after you fellows do your stuff. Then, if you all don’t in the schoolhouse for years. In fact, the last visit of break up the festivities, I’ll slip the 22’s to Hank and any of them had been during the political campaign he’ll start a bombardment in the stove. I guess that’ll of two years previous when the promise of a barbecue make the banquet interesting in case the speeches get had lured them to listen to recommendations which the too dull.” candidates gave themselves. The boys laughed quietly at this attempt at hu- For the most part the conversation, what little there mor and settled down to await the beginning of the was, had to do with the price of cotton and the pros- banquet. pects for the hunting season. Cotton is always cheaper They did not have long to wait. The activities going in the South at gathering time than anyone expects it to on in the assembly room of the schoolhouse were plainly be. Either there is too big a crop made, the carryover is visible. High school girls in attractive white aprons and more than was anticipated at planting time, or the mar- jaunty caps to match were hurrying about the room. ket is ruined by speculators. Take your choice -- one An atmosphere of anxiety was apparent in their serious reason is perhaps as good as another. But the hunting manner. They were anxious to make a complete suc- was excellent. There seemed to be plenty of partridges, cess of the first dinner service for which they had been rabbits were a pest, and enough deer were roaming the given complete responsibility. Some were carrying pine woods and the swamps so that all the city Nim- plates laden with food to the table, others were filling rods who were persistent could get a buck during the the glasses with water, and two or three seemed to be open season and the country folk could use their own inspecting and giving the final touches to the decora- judgment -- in case the deer were so numerous as to tions. Presently these preparations were completed and threaten too much injury to the fall gardens. THE GREEN HAND AN INTERRuptED BANQUET Presently the boys who were giving the banquet school and the members of the county board of educa- began to circulate among the groups asking them to tion. It was a great occasion for the boys in the agri- come into the assembly room. Each boy was expected cultural classes and for their fathers a very impressive to see that his Dad was properly seated. Finally, all one. Cedar Falls had never before attempted a formal the guests were standing behind their chairs waiting banquet. for the proper signal. It came when Willard Hender- Any evidence of embarrassment which had been no- son, the president of the Future Farmer chapter, asked ticeable while the group was waiting for the call to din- that all join in singing, “America.” After the first stanza ner disappeared as soon as thanks had been returned. had been completed, with the boys singing quite lust- Everyone concentrated his entire attention on the fried ily and the dads mumbling the words in a desultory chicken and the candied yams. Eating was an accom- way, the Reverend J. Archibald Wilkinson of the Bap- plishment in which each participant at the banquet was tist Church from Dawnville, the county seat, returned highly efficient. When the plates had been removed thanks and the group sat down to enjoy the meal which and a generous piece of lemon meringue pie had been had been prepared by the girls of the home economics placed before each of the guests, Willard Henderson, department. the youthful toastmaster with a freckled face and an At the speakers’ table were seated Willard Hender- unruly mass of red hair, stood up and rapped on his son, president of the Cedar Falls Chapter of the Future glass to get the attention of the group. Farmers of America; Walter Langford, teacher of vo- Willard was a fine looking boy in spite of his some- cational agriculture in the Cedar Falls Consolidated what unkempt appearance. While only eighteen, he School; Wilson Dominick, the county school superin- was more than six feet tall and weighed at least two tendent; and Dr. Marshall Anderson, Head of the Ru- hundred pounds. He was just the build of many of the ral Education Department at the State College of Ag- famous football stars who have made the All-Ameri- riculture and the man who had given Walter Langford can team. Willard might possibly some day distinguish the professional preparation for the position he now himself in athletics as have so many of the boys from held.

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