Perspectives
Pushback
(Post-Herald and Register, 1969)
Successful passage of the resolution to admit females brought immediate pushback. Following formal approval of this amendment to the FFA constitution at convention, there was no crowd applause. For boys who believed the mission of FFA was to develop them into the next generation of farmers, women had no place in agriculture and needed to confine their interests to housework and childcare. Still others believed adding women to FFA would soil its stellar reputation due to the inadequacy of females in agricultural pursuits.
"Due to the clause in our national constitution which limits our membership to students of vocational agriculture, it is impossible to accept the names or dues of girl students upon our national list of membership in the FFA. This is a boys organization!"
- Vernon Howell’s response to a letter sent by Rufus Stimson (IUPUI Archives)
Female's Triumph
Despite still divided opinion on female admission, girls from diverse backgrounds began enrolling in their local chapters. Two females, Anita Decker and Patricia Krowski, who attended the previous convention as observers, led the way by attending the following convention as chapter delegates.
"I didn’t realize what a big deal it was [to be one of the first two female delegates to attend the national convention] because girls had been involved at the local and district levels."
- Anita Decker (National FFA Organization, 2019)
Anita Decker and Patricia Krowski (National FFA Organization)
"Women members participate in a horticulture demonstration in 1980." (National FFA Organization)
"The first girl to win the Chevron Delo national tractor restoration title for high school students, standing on Wednesday next to the restored tractor for which she won top honors that year." ("Battle of the Sexes, With Monkey Wrenches" New York Times, 2005)
"Evadale, Texas, member Chrystal McDaniel poses with the 3 millionth FFA jacket." (National FFA Organization)
Mixed Reactions
Females who forged new frontiers in FFA found support from many but also often faced harsh, vocal detractors.
"After I'd just been elected really set the tone for being a pioneer in FFA... I had a national officer team who probably wasn't excited to have a female on because I don't know how many times I went into a room and they said 'Ah, here's the rose among the thorns.'"
- Peg Armstrong-Gustafson (Personal Interview 12 May 2023)