1Designating the week of February 16 through 22, 2014, as "FFA
2Week" in Pennsylvania

3WHEREAS, Future Farmers of America, now the National FFA
4Organization (FFA), has grown from its agricultural beginnings
5into a broad-spectrum leadership incubator; and

6WHEREAS, The FFA creed expresses belief in the future of
7agriculture "with a faith born not of words but of deeds"; and

8WHEREAS, In accordance with the FFA motto, members serve
9their chapter, community and country by cultivating friendships
10and planting new ideas and seeds of hope wherever they go,
11"learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, living to
12serve"; and

13WHEREAS, The FFA State Theme is: "Building the Future" and

1the FFA National Theme is: "Ignite"; and

2WHEREAS, The FFA in the 21st century welcomes young women and
3young men with diverse backgrounds, and FFA membership has
4reached a 27-year record high; and

5WHEREAS, More than 579,000 FFA members from 50 states, Puerto
6Rico and the Virgin Islands are learning to be successful
7leaders in production agriculture, agribusiness, agriscience and
8other fields; and

9WHEREAS, Many FFA members live far from working farms but
10have an interest in related fields like food science, turf
11management and horticulture; and

12WHEREAS, FFA members who live in rural areas now represent
1327% of the national organization; and

14WHEREAS, Females comprise 37% of total membership and nearly
1550% of all FFA officer teams; and

16WHEREAS, Young people across this Commonwealth continue to
17wear the traditional blue corduroy jacket which distinguishes
18FFA members; and

19WHEREAS, State President Christopher Toevs of Mechanicsburg
20represents today's diverse FFA; therefore be it

21RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
22week of February 16 through 22, 2014, as "FFA Week" in
23Pennsylvania and congratulate the members, advisers and parents
24involved with this exemplary youth organization.