Agricultural Education, Diversity in

The Beginning

Although there is no consensus as to when agricultural education in the United States began, the political support for agricultural education began at the postsecondary level with the passing of the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862. The Morrill Act provided land and money to each state for the provision of education and research in agriculture, home economics, and mechanics. The goals of the Morrill Act were implemented by land grant colleges and universities established in various regions of the United States. Because segregation prevented ethnic minority students from enrolling in land grant universities in the South, the Morrill Act of 1890 was passed to provide money—not land—to each southern state for the establishment of universities that would offer an education in agriculture primarily for Black youth. Not until 1994 was the Morrill Act amended to include Tribal Colleges for Native Americans who pursued postsecondary education.

The passage of the Morrill Acts sheds light on the efforts to bring diversity to agricultural education. These acts encouraged and facilitated the development of agricultural education at the secondary level long before the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 1917 Congress passed the Smith-Hughes National Vocational Education Act, which implemented the teaching of agriculture for male students and home economics for female students at both Black and White secondary public schools. [Page 84]As agricultural education within schools continued to grow and expand, so did male youth participation in livestock shows and crop exhibits. The participation in competitive events and the increase of agricultural education within U.S. schools led to the beginning of the Future Farmers of America (FFA). Founded in 1927, this organization provided an opportunity for White males to participate in competitive events related to agriculture. At the same time, state associations for Black youth interested in agriculture were developed. As a result of the continued growth and interest of state associations, the New Farmers of America (NFA) was founded in 1935. The NFA represented 18 eastern and southern states and served Black male youth enrolled in secondary agricultural education courses. Similar to the FFA, the NFA offered competitions in the field of agriculture, provided leadership opportunities for youth, and held conventions where youth could share ideas and talents. The organizations had a similar purpose—to develop leaders in the community.

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