Ohio FFA Association Consititution

Ohio FFA Association Constitution

Article I. Name
The name of the organization shall be the Ohio FFA Association. Recognized units of the organization may officially use the letters FFA and/or the words Future Farmers of America to designate the organization, its units and/or members.

Article II. Objectives of the Organization
The objectives of the organization shall be consistent with Section 3 of the National FFA Organization’s federal charter, Public Law 81-740. The organization shall cooperate with national and state government agencies and officials for vocational education in accomplishing the following objectives:

To be an integral part of the organized instructional programs in agricultural education which prepare students for a wide range of careers in agriculture, agribusiness, and other agriculture-related occupations.

To strengthen the confidence of students in themselves and in their work by developing desirable work habits and the effective usage of their time; by learning to assume responsibility; and by developing competencies in communications, human relations, and other social abilities leading to the intelligent choice of a career and successful employment or entrepreneurship in the agricultural industry.

To provide agriculture-related programs and activities which will develop pride, responsibility, leadership, character, scholarship, citizenship, patriotism, and thrift, and which will improve the economic, environmental, recreational, and human resources of the community.

To encourage and recognize achievement in supervised agricultural experience programs, scholarship, leadership, and other individual and group activities by providing awards to deserving members and chapters.

• The purposes for which this organization is formed are as follows:
• To develop competent, aggressive, agricultural leadership.
• To create and nurture a love of agricultural life.
• To strengthen the confidence of members in themselves and their work.
• To have members make an intelligent choice of agricultural occupations.
• To have members grow into an agricultural career.
• To have members improve the home and its surroundings.
• To participate in worthy undertakings for the improvement of agriculture.
• To develop character, train for useful citizenship, and foster patriotism.
• To participate in cooperative effort.
• To practice thrift.
• To improve in scholarship.
• To provide and encourage the development of organized recreational activities and skills.

Section B
Chapters of the Ohio FFA Association shall be chartered only in such schools where recognized systematic instruction in agricultural education is offered under the provisions of federal vocational education legislation. Such chapters shall operate as an integral part of the instructional program of agricultural education. Schools with large enrollments and/or multiple programs in agricultural education may establish subsidiary chapters of the parent chapter. Each subsidiary chapter shall be organized and operated in accordance with all the provisions of the national, state and local constitutions. Subsidiary chapters shall be coordinated by the officers and advisors of the parent chapter.

Section C
Students enrolled in local agricultural education programs shall meet, organize and adopt a constitution not in conflict with State or National Constitutions as their own, elect officers, set up a program of activities, and then apply to the state executive secretary for membership in the state FFA association. Upon receipt of a charter from the Ohio FFA Association, the local shall be part of the Ohio FFA Association and shall be empowered to enroll members and begin its programs and activities.

Section D
Collegiate chapters may be chartered by the Ohio FFA Association in two- or four-year post-secondary institutions where agricultural courses are taught. Each chartered collegiate chapter may adopt a constitution, which shall not conflict with that of the national organization or the Ohio FFA Association, elect officers, and establish a Program of Activities. Collegiate chapter members shall pay State and National FFA Organization dues.

Article IV. Procedures for Determining Standing of Local Chapters
Section A
A local chapter shall be in good standing with the Ohio FFA Association when the following conditions are met:

• All annual state and national dues have been paid to the Ohio FFA Association, or shown by postmark or other reliable evidence to have been mailed to the Ohio FFA Association on or before November 30th.
• All reports have been submitted to the Ohio FFA Association as requested by the Ohio FFA Board of Trustees.
• Provisions of the local FFA constitution do not conflict with the State and National FFA Constitution and chapter activities are in harmony with the ideals and purposes of the State and National FFA Organizations.

The Ohio FFA Board of Trustees shall have the power to suspend the charter of any local which violates the Ohio and/or National FFA Constitution and Bylaws. A report of all suspensions shall be presented by the Board to the delegates at the next succeeding state convention. In the event a local chapter is not in good standing at the time of the opening of a state convention, the delegates in session at that state convention shall have the power, upon recommendation of the Ohio FFA Board of Trustees, to withdraw the charter and refuse such association official representation at the annual state convention. When such action is taken, the chapter in question and the members thereof shall be denied the privileges of membership in the organization. Upon meeting the requirements for good standing, a local chapter may be reinstated by action of the Ohio FFA Board of Trustees.

Section B
A chapter shall be in good standing with the Ohio FFA Association when the following conditions are met:

• All annual state and national dues have been paid Ohio FFA Association by November 30th.
• All reports have been submitted as requested by the Ohio FFA Association.
• Provisions of the chapter constitution do not conflict with the State or National FFA Constitutions and chapter activities are in harmony with the ideals and purposes of the State and National FFA Organization.

The governing body of the Ohio FFA Association shall have the power to suspend the charter of any chapter which violates the State or National FFA Constitution and Bylaws. A report on all suspensions shall be presented to the delegates at the next succeeding state convention. In the event a chapter is not in good standing with the Ohio FFA Association at the time of the opening of a state convention, the delegates in session at that state convention shall have the power, upon recommendation of the Ohio FFA Association Board of Trustees, to withdraw the charter and refuse such chapter official representation at the state convention. When such action is taken the chapter in question and members thereof shall be denied the privileges of membership in the Ohio FFA Association. Upon meeting the requirements for good standing, a chapter may be reinstated by action of the Ohio FFA Association Board of Trustees.

In the event a local department of agricultural education is discontinued, its chartered FFA chapter may officially operate for a period not to exceed three years (36 months) from the date of discontinuance, provided proper supervision is given by a person having the approval of the local school administrator and the state FFA executive secretary or the state FFA advisor. The chapter's charter must be surrendered to the state FFA executive secretary or state advisor at the end of the three-year period if a local department of agricultural education is not in operation in the school at that time.

Section B
Active Membership - To be eligible for active membership in a chartered FFA chapter, a student must be enrolled in a secondary Agricultural Education program. The Ohio FFA Association considers secondary Agricultural Education programs to be grades 7-12. To become an active member and retain membership, a student must:

• While in school, be enrolled in at least one agricultural education course during the school year and/or follow a planned course of study; either course must include a supervised agricultural experience program, the objective of which is preparation for an agricultural career.
• Show an interest in the affairs of the organization by attending meetings, striving for degrees of membership, and participating in other organized activities of the chapter.
• Pay all current state and national dues by the date determined by the chapter.
• Display conduct consistent with the ideals and purposes of the State and National FFA Organization.

A member may retain active membership until November 30, following the fourth National FFA Convention after graduation from high school.

A member in good standing at the time of induction into the armed forces of the United States of America or into the FFA international program shall be in good standing during the period of active service without further payment of dues or attendance at meetings. Time spent in the armed forces or FFA international program shall not be considered as elapsed time in determining the maximum period of four conventions following graduation from high school or leaving high school. Members using this waiver of service time for the purpose of maintaining active membership for application for advanced degrees of membership must resume active participation within six months after having been honorably discharged from military service or completing their FFA international program and indicate such a desire by paying dues and attending meetings. Members participating in a six-month armed services program or participating in the FFA international program for six months shall be eligible for one full year of extended membership.

No individual may retain active membership beyond his or her twenty-third birthday.

Section C
Alumni Membership - Membership shall be open to former active members, collegiate and honorary members, present and former professional agricultural educators, parents of FFA members, and others interested in and supportive of the FFA.

Section E
Honorary Membership - Farmers, school superintendents, principals, members of boards of education, chapter advisors, teachers, staff members in agricultural education, business people, and others who are helping to advance agricultural education and the FFA and who have rendered outstanding service, may be elected to honorary membership by a majority vote of the members present at any regular meeting or convention.

Honorary membership shall be limited to the Honorary Chapter FFA Degree in the local chapter and Honorary State FFA Degree in the Ohio FFA Association.

Article VI. Degrees and Privileges of Active Membership
Section A
There shall be four degrees of active membership based on individual achievement. These are the Greenhand FFA Degree, the Chapter FFA Degree, the State FFA Degree, and the American FFA Degree. The national organization shall set the minimum qualifications for each degree.

Section B
Greenhand FFA Degree - To be eligible to receive the Greenhand FFA Degree from the chapter, the member must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Be enrolled in agricultural education and have satisfactory plans for a supervised agricultural experience program.
• Learn and explain the FFA Creed, Motto, Salute and FFA Mission Statement.
• Describe and explain the meaning of the FFA emblem and colors.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the FFA Code of Ethics and the proper use of the FFA jacket.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the history of the organization, the chapter constitution and bylaws, and the chapter Program of Activities.
• Personally own or have access to the Official FFA Manual and the FFA Student Handbook.
• Submit written application for the Greenhand FFA Degree.

Section C
Chapter FFA Degree - To be eligible to receive the Chapter FFA Degree from the chapter, the member must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Must have received the Greenhand FFA Degree.
• Must have satisfactorily completed the equivalent of at least 180 hours of systematic school instruction in agricultural education at or above the ninth grade level, have in operation an approved supervised agricultural experience program, and be enrolled in an agricultural education course.
• Have participated in the planning and conducting of at least three official functions in the chapter Program of Activities.
• Have earned and productively invested at least $150 by the member's own efforts or worked at least forty-five hours in excess of scheduled class time, or a combination thereof, and have developed plans for continued growth and improvement in a supervised agricultural experience program.
• Have effectively led a group discussion for 15 minutes.
• Have demonstrated five procedures of parliamentary law.
• Show progress toward individual achievement in the FFA award programs.
• Have a satisfactory scholastic record.
• Submit a written application for the Chapter FFA Degree.

Other requirements may be established by the chapter.

Section D
State FFA Degree - To be eligible to receive the State FFA Degree from the Ohio FFA Association, the member must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• I have earned the Chapter FFA Degree
• I have satisfactorily completed at least one-year of instruction in agricultural education and I am a current dues paying member of the FFA and enrolled in an agricultural education program or I have completed all of the agricultural education coursework that is offered my high school
• I have satisfactorily completed at least one-year of instruction in agricultural education
• I currently have an approved Supervised Agricultural Experience Program (SAE)
• I am a junior, senior, or high school graduate
• I am familiar with the state and national FFA constitutions
• I have assisted in the development of our FFA Chapter's Program of Activities
• By my own efforts from my SAE, I have:

Entrepreneurship: I have gross earnings that exceed $3,000;or Placement: I have worked more than 1,000 hours (minimum of 200 paid hours) and have earned in excess of $4,000; or Combination of Entrepreneurship & Placement: I have worked a minimum of 500 hours (minimum of 100 paid hours) and gross earnings that exceed $3,500, with a minimum of $1,000 in placement and a minimum of $1,000 in entrepreneurship; or Unpaid Labor (School Laboratory only - this area is typically reserved for JVS students): I have worked more than 700 hours (a minimum of 100 hours paid) with earnings greater than $2,500 ((unpaid - 600 x 3.33 = 2,000) + (paid - $500 generated from SAE); or Hazardous Occupation: (this area is typically reserved for JVS students): I have worked more than 600 hours with a minimum of 60 hours being paid with earnings greater than $2,000 ((unpaid - 540 x 3.33 = 1,800) + (paid - $200 generated from SAE)

• I have completed a minimum of 30 hours of home and/or community development projects
• I have productively invested a minimum of $1,000 (as calculated by the American Degree Application)
• I have participated in three activities that promote Agricultural Education and/or the FFA. These activities may include entries at the county and state fairs, Agriscience Fairs, demonstrations, etc.)
• I have participated in at least two different state sanctioned Career Development Events
• I have demonstrated ten abilities of parliamentary procedure
• I have given a six-minute speech on an agricultural topic
• I have been a chapter officer, committee chairperson, or a participating member of a major committee
• I have participated in the following five FFA activities that are above the chapter level. Of these activities, two must be from the following list: FFA Camp, Ohio Leadership Camp, Greenhand Camp, Taxonomy Camp, The Conference, Washington Leadership Conference, Ohio FFA Association Leadership Night, Fall COLT Conference, Spring COLT Conference, District Officer Training, State FFA Convention, National FFA Convention, or an international agriculture program.
• I have participated in four-school and community activities. At least one of these activities must be a school activity and at least one must be a community activity.
• I have a GPA equal to or greater than 2.00
• I have a 93% or better school attendance rate

Items used on the application cannot be duplicated to meet the minimum standards listed above with the exception of:

• Home and/or Community development hours as part of the SAE hours. These hours will be calculated at a rate of $3.33 automatically on the application.
• Parliamentary procedure and public speaking can count as both a CDE (#12) and as a demonstration of #13 and #14, as long as they occur above the chapter level in an official State CDE sanctioned event.

Written records of achievement of all requirements, verified by the chapter FFA advisor, shall be submitted to the Ohio FFA Association at least two months prior to the state FFA convention at which the State FFA Degree is to be received. The state FFA executive secretary or the state advisor shall provide for review of the records and submit a recommendation to the Ohio FFA Association Board of Trustees, which shall nominate at the state FFA convention the candidates who have been found worthy to receive the honor. The State FFA Degree will be conferred upon the candidates subject to approval by the delegates at the state convention.

Section E
American FFA Degree - To be eligible to receive the American FFA Degree from the National FFA Organization, the member must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Have received the State FFA Degree, have been an active member for the past three years (36 months) and have a record of satisfactory participation in the activities on the chapter and state levels.
• Have satisfactorily completed the equivalent of at least three years (540 hours) of systematic secondary school instruction in an agricultural education program or have completed the program of agricultural education offered in the school last attended.
• Have graduated from high school at least 12 months prior to the national convention at which the degree is to be granted.
• Have in operation and have maintained records to substantiate an outstanding supervised agricultural experience program through which a member has exhibited comprehensive planning, managerial and financial expertise.
• Have earned and productively invested at least $7,500 or have earned and productively invested at least $1,500 and worked 2,250 hours in excess of scheduled class time. Any combination of hours x $3.33 plus dollars must be equal to, or greater than the number 9,000. Hours used for the purpose of producing earnings reported as productively invested income shall not be duplicated as hours of credit to meet the minimum requirements for the degree.
• Have a record of outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement and have achieved a high school scholastic record of “C” or better as certified by the principal or superintendent.

Article VII. Procedure for Selecting American FFA Degree Recipients
Section A
Applications for the degree must be approved by the state FFA executive secretary or the state advisor and be received by the national organization not later than midnight of June 30, or show by postmark or other reliable evidence, to have been mailed to the national organization on or before June 15, prior to the national convention at which the degree is to be received.

Section B
Applications must be submitted on the official form provided by the National FFA Organization.

Section C
The National FFA Board of Directors shall review the American FFA Degree applications and recommend those candidates meeting the minimum qualifications. Final approval of the candidates shall be given by the delegates present at the national FFA convention.

Article VIII. Emblem
Section A
The official emblem of the FFA organization shall include five symbols, namely: the plow, representing labor and tillage of the soil; the owl, representing wisdom; the rising sun, representing progress; a cross-section of an ear of corn, representing common agricultural interests; and an American eagle surmounting the cross-section of the ear of corn, representing the national scope of the organization. The emblem shall also include the letters FFA, and the words" Agricultural Education."

Section C
Greenhand FFA Degree recipients shall be entitled to wear the official bronze emblem pin; Chapter FFA Degree recipients shall be entitled to wear the official silver emblem pin; State FFA Degree recipients shall be entitled to wear the official gold emblem charm; and American FFA Degree recipients shall be entitled to wear the official gold emblem key.

Section D
Honorary Chapter FFA Degree recipients shall be entitled to wear either the official silver or gold emblem pin; and Honorary State FFA Degree recipients shall be entitled to wear the official gold emblem charm.

Section E
Collegiate FFA chapter members and FFA advisors shall be entitled to wear the official gold owl pin.

Article IX. State Officers and Procedures for Election
Section A
The elected officers of the Ohio FFA Association shall consist of president; vice president; secretary; treasurer; reporter; sentinel; and ten district presidents, representing the ten agriculture education districts; advisor; and executive secretary-treasurer. These officers shall be elected annually by a majority vote of the delegates present at the state FFA convention, with the exception of the advisor and executive secretary-treasurer. All candidates for office must be recommended by their advisor, hold the State FFA Degree and be interviewed by the nominating committee. The method of selection of the officers of the Ohio FFA Association shall be prescribed in the Bylaws. The assistant director of the Agricultural Education Service shall act as advisor. The executive secretary-treasurer shall be appointed by the advisor from the supervisory staff as approved by the Director of Career-Technical and Adult Education.

Section B
The elected officers shall constitute the Board of Ohio FFA Officers. It shall be the duty of this Board to advise and make recommendations to the Ohio FFA Board of Trustees with respect to the activities and business of the Association.

Section C
A local chapter may recommend two candidates for Ohio FFA office each year. The local chapter’s candidates shall be approved by the local advisor on a nomination form submitted to the state executive secretary.

Section D
An Ohio FFA officer may serve only a one-year term, unless a current officer is elected to the office of state FFA president. Candidates must be an active member who is a junior, senior or has just graduated from high school during the year in which the state convention is held. With the exception of the current state president, all current state officers may run for the office of state president.

Section E
Ohio FFA officers shall serve from one state convention through the next succeeding state convention and shall not be re-elected, nor eligible for election to another state office with the exception running for state president. In the event a state convention is not held in any given year, the Ohio FFA Board of Trustees shall make provisions for the appointment of Ohio FFA officers for the next succeeding year. The president of the Ohio FFA Association, with approval from the Governing Committee, shall have the power to appoint a qualified member to fill any office, which becomes vacant between state conventions if so desired.

Article X. The State Advisor and Executive Secretary-Treasurer
The state advisor shall be the assistant director for the Agricultural Education Service, Office of Career-Technical and Adult Education, Ohio Department of Education. The executive secretary-treasurer shall be appointed by the advisor from the supervisory staff of the Agricultural Education Service as approved by the Director of Career-Technical and Adult Education.

Article XI. State and Chapter Officers
Section A
The officers of the Ohio FFA Association shall consist of a president; vice president; secretary; treasurer; reporter; sentinel; and ten district presidents, representing the ten agriculture education districts; advisor; and executive secretary-treasurer. These officers shall be elected annually by a majority vote of the delegates present at the state FFA convention, with the exception of the advisor and executive secretary-treasurer. All candidates for office must be recommended by their advisor, hold the state FFA degree, be interviewed by the nominating committee, and earn at least 65% of the possible points in that interview before they are eligible for nomination. The officers shall perform the usual duties of the respective offices. Selected officers may be assigned responsibilities on boards, committees and other duties as assigned by the executive secretary.

Section B
The offices of an FFA chapter shall be: president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, reporter and sentinel. Other officers may be elected as deemed appropriate by the local advisor and/or governing body. The teacher(s) of agricultural education shall be the FFA advisor(s). Chapter officers shall be elected annually or semi-annually by the members present at any regular meeting of the chapter.

Article XII. Meetings and Conventions
Section A
Except in case of an extreme emergency declared by the Ohio FFA Board of Trustees, a convention of the Ohio FFA Association shall be held annually. The purpose of the state convention shall be to conduct the business of the state organization and to recognize outstanding achievements of FFA members and chapters. The time and place of the convention shall be determined by the Ohio FFA Board of Trustees.

Section B
At the state convention an official delegate assembly limited to two delegates per chapter will convene. A quorum shall exist when both the following conditions are met at the time business is conducted: a majority of the official delegates registered at the state convention are present and at least one-half of the local chapters are represented by official delegates.

Article XIII. Ohio FFA Board of Trustees
Section A
Governing Body
The governing body of the organization shall be the Ohio FFA Board of Trustees, which shall consist of: the state FFA advisor, who shall serve as chairperson; the state FFA executive secretary; six state FFA constitutional officers; a teacher educator; a representative from the FFA Foundation Sponsors' Team; three teachers of agriculture; and a local agriculture education supervisor. The committee will be called the Ohio FFA Board of Trustees and by such name shall be known. They will have perpetual succession and the powers and limitations contained in this document. The terms of office of members of the Ohio FFA Board of Trustees and the method of selection of such members, other than the ex-officio members, shall be prescribed in the Bylaws.The Ohio FFA Board of Trustees shall meet at least twice each year at such time and place as may be prescribed by the Board and shall present an annual report.

Section B
Governing Committee
The chairperson, the current state FFA president, and the FFA executive secretary shall be designated by the Board to serve as the Governing Committee and shall have the power to deal with items of business of the Ohio FFA Association. All official actions of the Governing Committee shall be reported to the Ohio FFA Board of Trustees.

Article XIV. Dues
Section A
Annual membership dues of the Ohio FFA Association shall be established by a majority vote of the delegates at the state convention. The Ohio FFA Board of Trustees shall submit its recommendation concerning dues to each local chapter at least 45 days prior to the State FFA Convention.

Section B
The membership year of the Ohio FFA Association shall be from September 1 to August 31.

Section C
The annual membership dues of a chapter shall be established by a majority vote of the members at a regular chapter meeting.

Article XV. Amendments
A local chapter or the Ohio FFA Board of Trustees may submit proposed amendments to the Ohio FFA Constitution and Bylaws. Proposed amendments from a state FFA association must be submitted in writing to the Ohio FFA Association by February 1 for review by the Ohio FFA Association Board of Trustees. All proposed amendments to the Ohio FFA Constitution and Bylaws must be submitted by the state FFA executive secretary to the local FFA chapters at 45 days prior to the state convention. The state FFA officers shall present their recommendations concerning each amendment to the delegates at the state convention. An amendment to the Ohio FFA Constitution may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the official delegates at the state FFA convention. An amendment to the Bylaws shall require a majority vote of the official delegates at the state FFA convention. Amendments to the Bylaws must not conflict with the Ohio FFA Constitution.