Commems Collection Modern: What If? 2012 85th Anniversary Of The National Future Farmers Of America

Nothing against any farmer, anywhere, but this one would have gotten a from me!

During the 111th Congress, on July 31, 2009, Bruce L. Braley (D-IA) introduced a bill in the House of Representatives ("House") that called for "coins in commemoration of the National Future Farmers of America Organization and the 85th anniversary of the founding of the National Future Farmers of America Organization." ("FFA") 85th Anniversary?

National Future Farmers of America Logo

(Image Credit: National FFA Organization. Media image.)

It was a two-coin bill - up to 100,000 gold coins and up to 500,000 silver coins. The bill provided for the striking of each coin in Proof and Uncirculated versions. The coins were to be 2012 issues.

Note: The bill did not specify the denomination for either the gold or silver coins. The included specifications for each, however, match those of the US Gold Half Eagle and the US Silver Dollar.

The bill included a "Findings" section that provide historical background information on the organization and gave context for the coin proposal:

Congress finds that--

(1) the National Future Farmers of America Organization makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education;

(2) the National Future Farmers of America Organization was founded in 1928, as the "Future Farmers of America", to provide leadership training for high school students of vocational agriculture;

(3) the National Future Farmers of America Organization created a national agricultural education model for use in public school systems that has been adopted by youth leadership organizations throughout the world;

(4) the National Future Farmers of America Organization prepares its student members to think critically, work in teams, and be successful in more than 300 careers relating to the science, business, and technology of agriculture;

(5) approximately 9,000,000 living former members of the National Future Farmers of America Organization are prominent industry executives, members of Congress, community members, farmers, and productive United States citizens;

(6) in 2009, the National Future Farmers of America Organization had 507,763 members in more than 7,400 local chapters in all 50 States, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands;

(7) the Future Farmers of America was chartered by Congress in 1950, and continues to be an intra-curricular educational organization within public school systems throughout the United States; and

(8) October 2012 will mark the beginning of a year of celebration in honor of the 85th anniversary of the founding of the National Future Farmers of America Organization, which took place at the first national convention of the National Future Farmers of America Organization.

The bill provided only a general guideline for the designs to be used. It stated that the coin designs were to "emblematic of the 85-year history of the National Future Farmers of America Organization." The bill also specified that the coins were to include the standard inscriptions: "Liberty", "In God We Trust", "United States of America" and "E Pluribus Unum". (I'm seeing a tractor on one or both of the cois!)

The Issue Price of each coin was to include a surcharge:

- $25 for each Gold Half Eagle
- $10 for each Silver Dollar

The collected surcharge were to be paid "to the National Future Farmers of America Foundation in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the creation of an endowment to enhance and expand programs that encourage the development of leadership skills, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education and the Future Farmers of America."

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, but did not progress any further.

A companion bill was introduced in the Senate on the same day; it was introduced by Chuck Grassley (R-IA). The coin bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; it stalled in Committee.

Though the proposal went 0 for 2 in the in the 111th Congress, it wasn't finished!

Senator Grassley and Representative Braley tried again in the 112th Congress. Their re-introduced bills matched their previous proposals, with the exception of a date change for the coins to 2014 (vs. 2012). Each of the bills was referred to the appropriate Senate/House Committee, but neither bill was reported or considered further.

As I mentioned at the top of this post, I would not have been a supporter of this coin proposal. I have nothing against the Future Farmers organization or its members - I think the FFA is an important student-focused organization - my objection would have been focused on the 85th Anniversary the coins were to commemorate. Commemorating an 85th Anniversary comes across, to me, as an attempted cash grab vs. a milestone celebration. As a result, I wouldn't support the striking of coins for it.

Note: I was surprised to learn that the 85th Anniversary is traditionally called the Moonstone Anniversary. Who knew?


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including other What If? stories, see: Commems Collection.