History

The Massachusetts FFA Association was organized in May, 1930 as the Massachusetts Young Farmers Association. In September of 1931, the National FFA Organization granted Charter No. 47 to Massachusetts.

The first chapter to be granted a charter was Weymouth. This chapter was organized by Mr. Hilmer S. Nelson. The Worcester chapter was next to follow. The first State Convention was held back on May 23, 1931, in Memorial Hall, Amherst. Mr. A. Phillips Erbeck of Bristol County Agricultural High School was the first President of the organization, then known as the Massachusetts Young Farmers Association. Fredrick N. Andrew of Weymouth served as Secretary. At the time, there were only six chapters organized in the Commonwealth; namely, Bristol, Dartmouth, Essex, West Springfield, Weymouth and Worcester.

For more than 90 years, Massachusetts FFA has been part of the agricultural education program in more than forty two schools. Although the faces of the members have changed, programs have evolved and the agricultural industry has evolved to include more than 300 different careers, one thing has remained unchanged—Massachusetts FFA develops the leaders of tomorrow by impacting the youth of today.