Committee for Clarifying Official Dress and Related Policies

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1 Committee for Clarifying Official Dress and Related Policies Review and clarify the FFA visual brand as related to official dress and policies. The uniform worn by FFA members at local, state, and national functions is called Official Dress. It provides identity and gives a distinctive and recognizable image to the organization and its members. Official Dress has been worn with pride by millions of FFA members since According to the National FFA Manual (pages 24 & 25), the following information is provided with regards to Official Dress for males and females. Official Dress for Female Members Black Skirt White collared blouse Official FFA blue scarf Black dress shoes with a closed heel and toe Black nylon hosiery An official FFA jacket zipped to the top Degree chain with State or American FFA Degree Official Dress for Male Members Black Slacks White collared shirt Official FFA necktie Black dress shoes Black socks An official FFA jacket zipped to the top Degree chain with State or American FFA Degree The skirt is to be at least knee-length, hemmed evenly across the bottom, with a slit no higher than two inches above the knee, excluding the kick pleat. Black slacks may be appropriate for traveling and outdoor activities WHAT ARE THE CURRENT REGULATIONS REGARDING SKIRTS (IE: STYLE, SLIT LENGTH, LENGTH OF SKIRT, ETC.)? Skirts are to be black and at least knee-length, hemmed evenly across the bottom, with a slit no higher than two inches above the knee, excluding the kick pleat. WHAT STYLE OF SHOES ARE TO BE WORN? For females black dress shoes with a closed heel and toe. For males black dress shoes. WHEN DOES THE JACKET HAVE TO BE WORN VS. WHEN CAN IT BE TAKEN OFF DURING OFFICIAL EVENTS? Standards state that the jacket is worn at all official FFA occasions, as well as other occasions where the chapter or state association is represented. It may be worn at school and other appropriate places. WHAT ARE THE POLICIES AROUND RELIGIOUS ATTIRE (IE: YARMULKE, HIJAB, ETC.)? No policies have been established to limit a person from wearing religious attire with official dress.

2 WHEN CAN FEMALE MEMBERS WEAR PANTS? Black slacks may be appropriate for traveling and outdoor activities. PANTS WHEN ARE THEY SLACKS VS. BLACK JEANS? All standards reference black slacks, so that determination would need to be made at the local level if black jeans would be considered as slacks. WHERE ARE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS FOUND IN THE MANUAL, ON FFA.ORG, OTHER LOCATIONS? The Official FFA Manual pages The Student Handbook Online access to the Official FFA Manual at: WHAT CAN BE WORN ON THE FFA JACKET (IE: DEGREE PINS, CDE PINS, ETC.)? All chapter degree, officer and award medals should be worn beneath the name on the right side of the jacket, with the exception of a single State FFA Degree charm or American FFA Degree Key. These should be worn above the name or attached to a standard degree chain. No more than three medals should be worn on the jacket. These should represent 1) the highest degree earned, 2) the highest office held and 3) the highest award earned by the member. WHO CAN WEAR CHAINS? Members who have earned their State FFA Degree charm or American FFA Degree key. WHAT CODE OF ETHICS COME WITH OFFICIAL DRESS? In the Official FFA Manual on page 25 there is a section entitled, Proper Use of the FFA Jacket and it provides some code of ethics standards. - The jacket is to be worn only by members. - The jacket should be kept clean and neat. - The back of the jacket should have only a large official FFA emblem, the name of the state association and the name of the local chapter, region, district or area. The front of the jacket should have only a small official FFA emblem, the name of the individual, one office or honor and the year of that office or honor. - The jacket should be worn on official occasions with the zipper fastened to the top. The collar should be turned down and the cuffs buttoned. - The jacket should be worn by members and officers on all official FFA occasions, as well as other occasions where the chapter or state association is represented. It may be worn to school and other appropriate places. - The jacket should only be worn to places that are appropriate for members to visit. - School letters and insignia of other organizations should not be attached to or worn on the jacket. - When the jacket becomes faded and worn, it should be discarded or the emblems and lettering removed. - The emblems and lettering should be removed if the jacket is given or sold to a non-member. - A member should act professionally when wearing the official FFA jacket. - Members should refrain from use of tobacco and alcohol when underage and at all times when representing FFA. In addition, members should exhibit their leadership qualities when the encounter substances including tobacco and alcohol and serve to discourage others from inappropriate behavior.

3 - All chapter degree, officer and award medals should be worn beneath the name on the right side of the jacket, with the exception of a single State FFA Degree charm or American FFA Degree key. These should be worn above the name or attached to a standard degree chain. No more than three medals should be worn on the jacket. These should represent 1) the highest degree earned, 2) the highest office held and 3) the highest award earned by the member. WHAT CAN STATES REGULATE VS. NATIONAL REGULATIONS? The National FFA Organization has established a set of standards that can be utilized to regulate official dress at local, state, and national events. It is up to the individual states to determine how they will monitor or regulate these standards. WHAT IS THE POLICY ON RETIRING JACKETS? There is no official policy in place regarding retiring official jackets, however When the jacket becomes faded and worn, it should be discarded or the emblems and lettering removed. The emblems and lettering should also be removed if the jacket is given or sold to a non-member. ARE THERE OFFICIAL DRESS SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES? The Give the Gift of Blue Program was established as a way to provide official FFA jackets along with a scarf or necktie to FFA members who may not otherwise be able to afford them. More information on this program can be found at: WHAT IS THE NATIONAL FFA ORGANIZATION S POLICY ON HOW STUDENTS WISH TO EXPRESS THEIR GENDER? An FFA member should dress appropriately, based on the Official Dress standards outlined for the gender to which they identify. IS THERE FIELD OFFICIAL DRESS? Not at this time. WHAT IS THE OFFICIAL POLICY FOR OFFICIAL DRESS? As outlined in the Official FFA Manual a set of Official Dress standards are in place, however enforcement of these standards remain at the local chapter level. WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR DETERMINING WHAT ITEMS ARE SOLD IN THE CATALOGUE AND ON SHOPFFA? We offer the official jacket and ties/scarves as directed by official policy. Other items are determined based on the needs of the organization to fulfill its mission and consumer demand at the discretion of the merchandising staff. Response provided by Lee Anne Shiller, Director of Merchandise and Membership Services for the National FFA Organization.

4 WHAT RULES ARE GIVEN TO NATIONAL OFFICERS REGARDING WEARING OFFICIAL DRESS? When asked to be in official dress at an event, officers are expected to be in full, proper official dress, as it is outlined in the Official FFA Manual. It is expected to be clean, well maintained, and to have a proper fit. National officers are provided with their official dress from National FFA. We buy them high quality clothing at the beginning of the year for them to wear. If for whatever reason an article of official dress is no longer usable (holes, stains, etc.) they are advised to replace it with another article of high quality clothing. As outlined in the commitment form they sign, officers must maintain proper dress and good grooming for all occasions. For business casual events, officers are also provided FFA polo shirts and button up shirts from the Blue Catalog, as well as khaki pants. Officers should not wear their official jacket with anything other than proper official dress (I.E. livestock shows or county fairs where other FFA members are wearing their official jackets with blue jeans, khakis, or other pants as they show animals.) An officer should either be in full, proper official dress, or casual/business casual dress. They should not be mixed. Response provided by Coty Back, Team Leader for National Officer Management for the National FFA Organization. LEADERSHIP DELEGATES WANTED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FROM STATE FFA ASSOCIATIONS. WE SURVEYED THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE 2015 STATE PRESIDENTS CONFERENCE, UTILIZING THE ASSUMPTION THAT THESE STATE LEVEL STUDENT LEADERS WOULD HAVE INTERACTIONS WITH STATE REGULATIONS FOR OFFICIAL DRESS. BELOW ARE THE FINDINGS OF THIS SURVEY. 1. Does your state have a policy in place for official dress in the following situations? A breakdown of responses by state is provided on the next page

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6 2. Please describe your state s policy for Fair/Showing attire. Association Description Connecticut Official Dress South Dakota The State FFA provides showing shirts each year. We do not wear official dress for showing. Jeans and close toed shoes are usually worn. Nebraska Members are required to wear the respective year's FFA state fair t-shirt. It only applies at state fair. New Hampshire White shirt, white pants. Pants are allowed for females if the weather calls for it. That is also at the discretion of the advisors Kentucky Our state does not require OD for shows and any of the fairs. Nevada Official Dress. Black or white (for dairy) wranglers, White button up, scarf or tie, and jacket. Belt buckles worn when showing. North Dakota The North Dakota Association has members wear jeans and a nice FFA (polos) shirt for showing and other fair activities. Delaware Our State Fair is during July, so it's the peak of summer and the weather usually portrays just that. For the CDE's that are held in July and even June (except for Ag Science Fair), students wear either jeans or appropriate khaki shorts, and a FFA Shirt (preferably there home chapter t-shirts). Footwear is usually closed toed shoes. South Carolina For certain fair based CDEs, official dress is not necessary. Usually our showing CDE includes official dress because the competitors are being judged on looks, but official dress is not usually worn during judging CDEs because the competitors or not be judged on their looks. The advisor usually makes the decision on attire if there are not clear dress code guidelines. Georgia At showing events, students are asked not to wear officer dress do to the environment you are in. Appropriate dress in that situation would be blue jeans, a button up shirt, and boots. Virgin Islands Long sleeved shirt Black skirt Black panty hose FFA jacket Black close toe shoes Mississippi A white collared shirt, FFA scarf or tie, FFA jacket, black dress pants, and boots Puerto Rico Official uniform Wyoming For fair and showing in FFA showmanship, one has to be in official dress. North Carolina Black pants and black boots with FFA jacket and scarf/tie. Arizona Our state's policy for Fair/Showing attire is Official Dress, only instead of skirts and slacks both genders wear black jeans with black boots/field shoes. Colorado The only show that requires exhibitors to wear official dress is the Heifer Wrangle class at the Colorado State Fair and for that event official dress is the same as standard but it does allow girls to wear black slacks instead of skirts. Oregon Official Dress New York White outfit with number tag Utah Jacket and Tie Minnesota Jeans and a polo shirt or an FFA shirt 3. Please describe your state s policy for Field/Outdoor attire. Association Description Arizona Our field dress is the same as our Fair/Showing attire. South Dakota It is the normal official dress policy, except girls can wear black pants. Oregon Wear Official Dress New Hampshire If competing in Forestry, then boots, jeans and unifying clothing can be worn. If in ENR, then Official Dress. Pants are allowed for females if the weather calls for it. That is also at the discretion of the advisors. New York Polos Montana If we are doing an activity like livestock, mechanics, or forestry students may wear clothing that is appropriate for the activity or the weather. (Pants for girls, t-shirts, or button ups) Kentucky Instead of OD we require students to wear FFA attire, such as t-shirts. Most events outdoors do not require official dress, but if they do proper official dress is worn. Utah It s still the jacket I believe North Dakota North Dakota encourages members to wear dress for the weather. FFA apparel is encouraged. Maine During the winter months we allow girls to wear pants as well if they are competing in an event that

7 has them with animals. Tennessee Women can wear slacks; no heels required. New Mexico Girls are allowed to wear slacks in outdoor situations South Carolina For most field/outdoor activities and CDEs, official dress is not worn because the competitors are (1) not judge on their looks and (2) may get their clothing dirty. There is no written rule, but advisors usually know what is appropriate to wear and decide for their team. North Carolina You are asked to wear a t-shirt or polo that has the FFA emblem or something dealing with FFA when conducting outdoor activities. Georgia If you are in a physically intensive contest, then black slacks would be appropriate for official dress; however, that is the only time that is allowed. Virgin Islands Jeans, shirts with sleeves Minnesota Whatever they would like Mississippi A white collared shirt, FFA scarf or tie, FFA jacket, black dress pants, and boots Puerto Rico Jeans, polo or t-shirt with FFA emblem and boots or sneakers 4. Does your state have opportunities for students to earn FFA official dress (jacket programs, etc.)? IN PREPARATION FOR CONVENTION, DISCUSS THESE ITEMS WITH YOUR STATE ASSOCIATION STAKEHOLDERS (MEMBERS, TEACHERS, ALUMNI, STATE STAFF, ETC.) TO GAIN A WELL ROUNDED PERSPECTIVE ON OFFICIAL DRESS POLICY.