Embrace change and tradition: FFA officer gives retiring address

INDIANAPOLIS — Change that overlooks tradition is not true progress, said Miriam Hoffman during her retiring address at the National FFA Convention.

Hoffman, an Illinois native, served as National FFA eastern region vice president.

She encouraged FFA members to use the FFA creed as a guide to make good decisions.

“It starts with the words ‘I believe’ and ends with ‘that inspiring task,’” she said of the creed. “It’s packed full of paragraphs of wisdom in the middle. Our FFA creed is spoken by members everywhere.

“As we speak the words of what it means to work hard, to serve people and to advance agriculture, no matter the language it’s spoken in, whether it’s spoken to an audience of 1,000 or one, our creed is deeply meaningful.”

The FFA creed was written in 1930 by Erwin Milton Tiffany. The statement expresses Tiffany’s belief in the agriculture industry.

“The author believed that the FFA stands solid because of, not in spite of, it’s connection to agriculture,” Hoffman said. “And that the words of the creed only truly come alive through the efficient work and the clear thinking of the members who speak its words.”

In 1990, delegates voted to update the creed with language inclusive of the entire agriculture industry, not just farming.

“When they made small changes to the creed, it was to better reflect the original intent of the agricultural instructor who penned those words decades ago,” Hoffman explained.

Those FFA members honored the legacy of the original author while making positive changes.

“You might become the fine print instead of the headline, but I promise you it will be worth it,” Hoffman said. “Yes, choose change. Yes, choose tradition. Because when we choose both, we choose true progress.”

Hoffman encouraged FFA members to find their reason — their creed — that inspires them.

“As the sun is setting on my own FFA career, I continue to believe in your rising sun,” she said. “Because I believe in true progress. I believe in you. I believe in your ability to make change that honors tradition. That will always be the most inspiring task.”

The FFA Creed

I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds — achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.

I believe that to live and work on a good farm, or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny.

I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others. I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly, with such knowledge and skill as I can secure, and in the ability of progressive agriculturists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil.

I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining; in the life abundant and enough honest wealth to help make it so — for others as well as myself; in less need for charity and more of it when needed; in being happy myself and playing square with those whose happiness depends upon me.

I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task.