SC FFA Constitution and Bylaws

The name of the organization shall be the South Carolina Association of FFA. Local chapters may officially use the letters “FFA” and/or the words “Future Farmers of America” to designate the Organization, its units and/or members.

The objectives of the organization shall be consistent with Section 3 of the organization’s federal charter, Public Law 105-225"(formerly Public Law 81-740).”  The organization shall cooperate with national and state government agencies and officials for vocational education in accomplishing the following objectives: 

1. To be 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.
2. To strengthen the confidence of students in themselves and in their work by developing desirable work habits and the effective use 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 of entrepreneurship in the agriculture industry.
3. To provide agriculture-related programs and activities which will develop pride, responsibility, leadership, character, scholarship, citizenship, patriotism, thrift and which will improve the economic, environmental, recreational and human resources of the community.
4. 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.

Section A.  The South Carolina Association of FFA is a state organization of affiliated local chapters in 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.

Section B.  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 agricultural education may meet, organize and adopt a constitution which shall not conflict with that of the State or National Organization, elect officers, develop a Program of Activities, and apply to the State FFA Executive Secretary for a chapter charter.  Upon receipt of a charter from the State Association, the chapter shall be part of the National FFA Organization and State FFA Association.

Section D.  Collegiate chapters may be chartered by the State FFA Association in two or four year post-secondary institutions where agricultural courses are taught.

Each chartered collegiate chapter may adopt a constitution that shall not conflict with that of the National Organization or the respective State Association, elect officers, and establish a Program of Activities.

Collegiate chapter members shall pay State and National FFA Organization dues.

Section A.  A local chapter shall be in good standing with the State Association when the following conditions are met:

1. All annual state and national dues have been paid by the date determined by the State Association.
2. All reports have been submitted as requested by the State Association.
3. 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 National FFA Organization.

Section B.  The governing body of the State Association shall have the power to suspend the charter of any chapter, which violates the State or the 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 state association at the time of the opening of the state convention, the delegates in session at the state convention shall have the power, upon recommendation of the state association governing body, 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 state association. Upon meeting the requirements for good standing, a chapter may be reinstated by action of the state association governing body.

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 date of the discontinuance, provided proper supervision is given by a person having the approval of the local school administrator and the State FFA Advisor.  The chapter’s charter must be surrendered to the State FFA 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 A. Membership in the National FFA Organization shall be of two types of membership: student and adult.

Section B.  Student membership —To be eligible for student membership in a chartered FFA chapter, a student must be enrolled in a secondary agricultural education program.  State Associations may consider “secondary agricultural education programs” to be grades 6-12.

To become a student member and retain membership, a student must:

1. While in school, be enrolled in at least one agricultural education course during the school year and/or follow a planned course of study, which are defined by a SC State Dept. of Education Agricultural Education course codes, either course must include a supervised agricultural experience program, the objective of which is preparation for an agricultural career.
2. 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.
3. Pay all current state and national dues by the date determined by the chapter.
4. Display conduct consistent with the ideals and purposes of the National FFA Organization.

A member may retain student 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 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 23^rd birthday.

Section C.  Adult Membership can be considered locally as Alumni Membership or Collegiate Membership– Alumni 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.  Collegiate Membership – Collegiate membership shall be open to students who are enrolled in agricultural courses or who are pursuing career objectives in the industry of agriculture at a two- or four-year post-secondary institution having a collegiate FFA chapter. Adult membership programs must pay membership to the National FFA Organization in order to use the FFA name, emblem, logo or similar.

Section D. 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, Honorary State FFA Degree in the state association, and the Honorary American FFA Degree in the national organization.

Section A.  There shall be five degrees of active membership based on individual achievement. These are the Discovery FFA Degree, 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. The Discovery FFA Degree is intended for use in state associations and local chapters where middle school membership is offered. Receipt of this degree is not necessary in order to obtain the Greenhand FFA Degree or subsequent degrees.

Section B. Discovery FFA Degree – To be eligible to receive the Discovery FFA Degree from a chapter, the member must meet the following minimum requirements.

1. Be enrolled in agricultural education class for at least a portion of the school year while in grades 7-8.
2. Have become a dues paying member of the FFA at local, state and national levels.
3. Participate in at least one local chapter activity outside of scheduled class time.
4. Have knowledge of agriculturally related career, ownership and entrepreneurial opportunities.
5. Be familiar with the local FFA chapter program of activities.
6. Submit written application for degree.

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

1. Be enrolled in agricultural education and have satisfactory plans for a supervised agricultural experience program.
2. Learn and explain the FFA Creed, motto, salute and FFA Mission Statement.
3. Describe and explain the meaning of the FFA emblem and the colors.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the FFA Code of Ethics and the proper use of the FFA jacket.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of the history of the Organization, the chapter constitution and bylaws, and the chapter Program of Activities.
6. Personally own or have access to the Official FFA Manual and the FFA Student Handbook.
7. Submit a written application for the Greenhand FFA Degree.

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

1. Must have received the Greenhand FFA Degree.
2. 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.
3. Have participated in the planning and conducting of at least three official functions in the chapter Program of Activities.
4. Have earned and productively invested at least $150 by the member’s own efforts or worked at least 45 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.
5. Have effectively led a group discussion for 15 minutes.
6. Have demonstrated five procedures of parliamentary law.
7. Show progress toward individual achievement in the FFA award programs.
8. Have a satisfactory scholastic record.
9. Submit a written application for the Chapter FFA Degree.

Other requirements may be established by the chapter and/or the State FFA Association.

Section E.  State FFA Degree – To be eligible to receive the State FFA Degree from the State Association, the member must meet the following minimum qualifications: 

1. Have received the Chapter FFA Degree.
2. Have been an active FFA member for at least two years (24 months) or have completed all the available agricultural education instruction available at the time of receiving the State FFA Degree.
3. While in school, have completed the equivalent of at least two years (360 hours) of systematic school instruction in agricultural education at or above the ninth grade level, which includes a supervised agricultural education experience program.
4. Have earned and productively invested at least $1,000 or worked at least 300 hours in excess of scheduled class time, or a combination thereof, in a supervised agricultural experience program.
5. Demonstrate leadership ability by:
6. Performing ten procedures of parliamentary law.
7. Giving a six-minute speech on a topic relating to agriculture or the FFA.
8. Serving as an officer, committee chairperson or participating member of a chapter committee.
9. Have a satisfactory scholastic record as certified by the local agricultural education instructor and the principal or superintendent.
10. Have participated in the planning and completion of the chapter program of activities.
11. Have participated in at least five different FFA activities above the chapter level.

The percentage of the total state membership that may receive the State FFA Degree and other requirements, may be established by the State FFA Association.

Written records of achievement of all requirements verified by the chapter FFA advisor shall be submitted to the state association at least one month prior to the state convention at which the State FFA Degree is to be received. The state advisor shall provide for review of the records and submit a recommendation to the state association governing body, 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 F. 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:

1. Have received the State FFA Degree, have been an active member for the last three years (36 months), and have a record of satisfactory participation in the activities on the chapter and state levels.
2. Have satisfactorily completed the equivalent of at least three years (540 hours) of systematic secondary school instruction in an agricultural education program or to have completed at least the equivalent of 360 hours of systematic secondary school instruction in agricultural education and one full year of enrollment in a postsecondary agricultural program or to have completed the program of agricultural education offered in the secondary school last attended.
3. Have graduated from high school at least 12 months prior to the national convention at which the degree is to be granted.
4. 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.
5. 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 $6.67 plus dollars must be equal to, or greater than the number 16,5000. 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.
6. 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.

Section A. The official emblem of the South Carolina FFA Association 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 B. The emblem shall be uniform in all state associations and recognized units thereof. All members shall be entitled to display the emblem.

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 Farmer Degree recipients shall be entitled to wear the official gold emblem charm; and American FFA Degree recipients to wear the official gold emblem charm, and Honorary 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.  Honorary State FFA Degree recipients shall be entitled to wear the official gold emblem key.

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

Section A. The elected officers of the South Carolina FFA Association shall be a President, Secretary, four Vice Presidents, Advisor and Executive Secretary – Treasurer. The stations and duties of Vice President, Treasurer, Reporter, and Sentinel will be assigned to Vice Presidents at the time of election. All candidates for office must be recommended by their advisor and regional coordinator before they are eligible for nomination. The State Director of Agriculture Education shall be the State FFA Advisor.  The Executive Secretary-Treasurer shall be appointed by the Advisor from the State Staff. The officers shall perform the usual duties of the respective offices. Any member who has been elected to the state FFA degree and is a rising high school senior, a high school graduate or a first-year graduate, may seek a state FFA office. No state FFA officer shall serve more than one term as a state officer.

Section B. The executive committee of the State Association of FFA shall consist of the state officers. This committee shall perform the usual duties of an executive committee, review and approve State FFA Degree applications and activities and awards and be responsible for the welfare of the organization.

Section C. 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. If a chapter has been chartered for two years or more, all chapter officers shall have attained the Chapter FFA Degree.

Section A.  Except in case of extreme emergency, a convention of the State FFA Association shall be held annually prior to the National Convention at a time and place to be determined by the governing body of the State Association of FFA.

Section B.  Local FFA chapters shall hold their meetings monthly or more often and at the time and place decided by the Executive Committee of the local chapter.

Section C.  Each active local FFA chapter shall be entitled to two delegates to the state FFA convention, who shall represent the local chapter in conducting the business of the State Association of FFA.

The president of the South Carolina Association of FFA shall appoint committees annually; the auditing committee, program of activities committee, and other committees as deemed necessary.

The auditing committee shall review the auditor’s reports on all FFA financial accounts.

The program of activities committee shall set up the annual objectives and goals of the state organization and suggested ways and means of attaining them.

Section A. The governing body of the South Carolina Association of FFA shall be the State FFA Advisory Committee, which shall consist of, the following officers of the South Carolina Association of Agricultural Educators:  Past President, President and President-Elect, as well as a teacher from each of the agricultural education regions, one teacher educator from Clemson University and a representative from the Agricultural Education staff as designated by the State Director.  The agricultural education teachers selected to represent the regions shall be elected by the South Carolina Association of Agricultural Educators with two teachers elected annually for a two-year term.  The Past President of the South Carolina Association of Agricultural Educators shall serve as Chairperson.  The remainder of the agricultural education staff and the Director of Public Affairs shall serve as Ex-officio members. 

Section B. The State FFA Advisory Committee shall possess the power to approve actions of the Executive Committee and the delegates to the state convention.

Section C.  The State FFA Advisory Committee shall cooperate with and serve in an advisory capacity to the State FFA Advisor, assist with the administrative direction of the organization and interpret the State FFA Constitution.

Section D.  Whenever it shall become necessary to execute deeds, mortgages, or contracts relating to property, real or personal, owned by the South Carolina Association of FFA, such instruments shall be executed by a majority of the members of the State FFA Advisory Committee.

Section A.  Annual membership dues of the State FFA Association shall be established by the State Executive Committee subject to approval by the majority vote of the delegates present at the state FFA convention. The membership year of the State FFA Association shall be from July 1 to June 30.

Section B.  Annual membership dues of a local chapter shall be established by a majority vote of the members at a regular chapter meeting.

Section A.  Proposed amendments to the State FFA Constitution shall be submitted in writing by the delegates from any chapter at least 60 days prior to the annual State FFA Convention. The proposed amendments must be submitted to the State Executive Committee that shall in turn submit them to the local chapters 30 days prior to the annual state FFA convention. Amendments may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the official delegates at the state FFA convention. 

Section B.  An amendment to the bylaws shall receive a majority vote of the official delegates at the state FFA convention. Amendments to the bylaws must not conflict with the National or State FFA Constitution.

Section A.  The bylaws shall be a part of the Constitution of the South Carolina Association of FFA.

Section A.  President.  It shall be the duty of the President to preside over all meetings and conventions of the South Carolina Association of FFA and over all meetings of the State FFA Executive Committee.  The President shall call one state convention each year.  The President shall call special meeting of the South Carolina FFA Association or of the Executive Committee, when requested to do so by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.  The President shall appoint all committees, except the Nominating Committee, and may serve as an ex-officio member of those committees.

Section B.  Vice President.  The Vice President shall assume all of the duties of the President in the event that the office of President becomes vacant by resignation or otherwise.  The Vice President shall preside over all meetings in the absence of the President and shall assume such other duties of the President as are assigned by the State Executive Committee. It shall be the duty of the Vice President, acting under the direction of the President, to look after the welfare of the FFA organization in the administrative districts of the state.

Section C.  Secretary.  It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep minutes of the meetings of the State FFA Officers and the State Convention, and perform other duties as directed by the State Executive Secretary-Treasurer or by the State Executive Committee.

Section D.  Treasurer.  It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to act as chairman of the auditing committee, assist the Executive Secretary-Treasurer in handling the financial business of the organization and perform other duties as directed by the State Executive Secretary-Treasurer or by the State Executive Committee.

Section E.  Reporter.  It shall be the duty of the Reporter to write news articles, prepare published materials regarding the State Association and perform other duties as directed by the State Executive Secretary-Treasurer or by the State Executive Committee.

Section F.  Sentinel.  It shall be the duty of the Sentinel to keep the meeting room in order, serve as host for guests of the Association, and perform other duties as directed by the State Executive Secretary-Treasurer or by the State Executive Committee.

Section G.  The State Advisor.  It shall be the duty of the State FFA Advisor to 

1. Advise the Executive Committee and other committees on matters of policy and assist the State Officers in conducting meetings and carrying out programs.
2. Serve as ex-officio member of all committees.
3. Provide for the review of all applications for the State FFA Degree and submit them to the State FFA Advisory Committee for approval.

Section H.  The Executive Secretary-Treasurer.  It shall be the duty of the Executive Secretary-Treasurer to:

1. Serve as an ex-officio member of all committees and act as an agent of the State Executive Committee.
2. Issue charters to local chapters.
3. Keep official records of members and the progress of the organization.
4. Review all reports from the National FFA Organization and disseminate information to local chapters.
5. Be responsible for the financial assets of the organization, collect state and national dues, keep an accurate record of all receipts, bank deposits and disbursements, and make an annual report on such matters to the State Executive Committee and State FFA Advisory Committee.
6. Present the auditing committee with an annual financial statement signed by a certified auditor.
7. Obtain a suitable bond, the amount to be fixed by the Executive Committee annually.
8. Plan and arrange the annual convention of the South Carolina Association of FFA.
9. Perform such other duties as directed by the State FFA Advisory Committee and/or the State Advisor.

Each local chapter shall submit the following information to the State Executive Secretary-Treasurer when called for on the proper forms:

1. A report of officers and program of work for the year.
2. A membership report and membership roster accompanied by the state and national dues.
3. An annual report of chapter activities. The FFA year shall be from July 1 to June 30.

Section A.  The nominating committee for the state officers shall consist of two members from each of the agricultural education administrative regions.  Nominating committee members shall be appointed by the State President based upon a written recommendation made by the local advisor and approved by the State Advisory Committee prior to the annual convention.  The nominating committee shall submit to the delegates of the annual convention one eligible candidate for each elective office.  Officers shall be elected annually by a majority vote of the delegates present at the state convention except that the Executive Secretary-Treasurer shall be appointed by the Advisor from the supervisory staff.

Section B.  One state officer shall be elected from each of the administrative regions of the State Association provided qualified candidates are offered.  The President and Secretary shall be elected from the state at large.

Section C.  For a member to be considered as a state officer candidate, the member must be recommended by the local advisor and regional coordinator in writing to the State Executive Committee prior to the annual convention.

Section D.  When an officer of the South Carolina Association of FFA cannot or does not assume the duties of the office, a successor shall be appointed by the State Executive Committee on approval of the State Advisory Committee.

Section E.  Only those members who have been elected to the State FFA degree can hold a state office.

All rights and privileges not herein granted under this constitution are reserved to the State FFA Executive Committee until the regular State FFA Convention convenes.