The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Illinois State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka visited with La Harpe resident Anna Ziegler, (Section 11 President with FFA) and llamas at the Illinois State Fair FFA Petting Zoo area. Illinois schools have had high school agriculture organizations since 1912, and the Smith-Hughes Act in 1917 influenced the expansion of agriculture departments and their activities. The Illinois Association of Future Farmers of America was founded in 1929, one year after the formation of the national organization, as a club for high school farm boys.
Mr. J.E. Hill, the State Supervisor of Agriculture Education, was very instrumental in forming the F.F.A. They had a meeting at the University of Illinois on June 12, 1929, and organized the Illinois Association of Future Farmers of America.