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HAGERSTOWN, Ind. — One of the great aspects of the FFA organization is its emphasis on making lasting relationships with other members.
That is certainly the case for nine former Indiana FFA members who have stayed in touch over the decades.
The group of former FFA officers from the 1950s has been gathering every year since 1959 to share a meal and catch up with each other.
Gene Wint
Office held: 1953-1954 Indiana FFA state reporter.
Chapter: Columbus FFA Chapter.
Career: Truck driver and farmer; still lives and works on the farm he was raised on.
Favorite FFA memory: Some of my best memories from my time as an FFA member were the state and national FFA conventions I attended. It was also a proud moment for me watching both of my sons get their American FFA Degrees.
Advice for current FFA members: Get involved in as many activities as one can. There are many opportunities in the FFA organization, all members need to do is show an interest and put themselves out there. Anyone can find something of interest in the FFA.
Frank Gladden
Office held: 1955-1956 District 8 FFA president.
Chapter: Plainfield FFA Chapter.
Career: Farmer; still farms with his son.
Favorite FFA memory: Attending the National FFA Convention in 1955, where I ran into Harry Truman walking down the street. He took the time to sit down and talk with me and my fellow teammates. An important memory for me as well was when I received my American FFA Degree at the 1956 National FFA Convention.
Advice for current FFA members: Get involved in all the things that you can. There are many good FFA chapters out there, as well as dozens of activities and contests FFA members can participate in.
A. Wayne Drake
Offices held: 1954-1955 Indiana FFA state secretary, 1955-1956 Indiana FFA state president.
Chapter: Plainfield FFA Chapter.
Career: Farmer; started farming when he was only 11 years old.
Favorite FFA memory: When I served as a state officer I traveled more than 13,000 miles and met hundreds of people.
Advice for current FFA members: Be heavily involved in the organization. Today there are many activities members can get involved in that weren't offered 50 years ago.
Charles Jackson
Office held: 1954-1955 Indiana FFA state president.
Chapter: Columbus FFA Chapter.
Favorite FFA memory: I enjoyed meeting a lot of FFA members and talking with them at various state and national FFA conventions I attended.
Advice for current FFA members: Members need to put their shoulder to the grind and pay attention to everything they are doing.
Jerry Rulon
Offices held: 1955-1956 Indiana FFA state secretary, 1956-1957 Indiana FFA state president, 1957-1958 National FFA central region vice president.
Chapter: Walnut Grove FFA Chapter.
Favorite FFA memory: The five weeks touring with the Goodwill tours while I was serving as a National FFA officer. It was quite the experience.
Advice for current FFA members: Keep speaking. If FFA members never quite speaking they will get along all right.
Kenneth Orem
Office held: 1957-1958 Indiana FFA state treasurer.
Chapter: Burlington FFA Chapter.
Career: Farmer.
Favorite FFA memory: For my honeymoon my wife, Joyce, and I attended a National FFA Convention.
Advice for current FFA members: Participate in public speaking as much as you can and learn parliamentary procedure, because you will use it your entire life.
Mel Vance
Office held: 1956-1957 Indiana FFA state sentinel.
Chapter: Palmyra FFA Chapter.
Career: Taught high school agricultural and biology for 32 years at North Montgomery High School
Favorite FFA memory: My 1982 soils judging team were runners up at the national contest.
Advice for current FFA members: I taught my students the importance of the 3 r's; responsibility, respect and resourcefulness.
Mac Martin
Office held: 1957-1958 Indiana FFA state vice president.
Chapter: Bourbon FFA Chapter.
Career: Agricultural product sales representative.
Favorite FFA memory: Traveling to Kansas City for the National FFA Convention to receive my American FFA Degree.
Advice for current FFA members: Get in, get involved and learn all you can while in the FFA organization.
Marvin Culy
Office held: 1955-1956 Indiana FFA state reporter.
Chapter: Hagerstown FFA Chapter.
Career: Farmer
Favorite FFA memory: I received my American FFA Degree right after my wife and I had just gotten married.
Advice for current FFA members: Study hard and respect your elders, and take agricultural classes whenever you can.