Future Farmers of America

"Of all the world's vocations, the oldest, the most necessary, and one of the most honorable is agriculture."
Governor Judd address to the First Future Farmers of America Convention, Hilo, April 17, 1930

Future Farmers of America played an important role in preparing young men for careers on the Hakalau Plantation.

John M. Ross Chapter, Hakalau School, March, 1930
Back row (honorary members): J.M. Ross, E.S. Capellas, A. Costa. Middle row: Adviser T. Maneki, W. Ouye, Juko Miyashiro, Seiko Miyashiro, Samuel Maeka, Isamu Takemoto, Matsuzen Nakamura, Taft Penarosa, Yoshito Sakamoto, Minoru Meguro, Ernest de Lima, Adviser Mrs. Lujan. Front row: Edward Maeka, Sadayoshi Furumoto, Takeshi Teruya, Shigeo Isaki, Kuruwanbu Morita, Yoshio Oba, Masaru Morikone, Siberio Santiago, Jikichi Miyashiro.

Photos and articles from the Waichi Ouye Collection courtesy of his family.

"You and those who follow you, will be putting your brains and your hands to a practical solution of one of the most serious problems confronting Hawaii today: home production for the needs of home consumption and an excess for export, and productive employment for our Hawaiian-born population."
- Excerpt from Governor Judd's address to Hawaii's First Future Farmers of America Convention, April 17, 1930

1929. Sadoyoshi Furumoto, Waichi Ouye, Hisaichi Moribayashi, Kuwambu Morita prepare field for planting under the Smith Hughes Training Program. Photo from the Waichi Ouye Collection, courtesy of his family.

To view other articles about the John Ross Chapter of Future Farmers of America in Hakalau, click on on the titles below:

An Address by His Excellency Lawrence M. Judd, Governor of Hawaii, Before the Future Farmers of America in their First Annual Convention, at Hilo, Hawaii, April 17, 1930

The John Ross Chapter, Hilo Tribune Herald, June 26, 1930

Smith Hughes Training Program and Hilo Tribune Herald Article, "Hakalau School Makes Enviable Farm Records", Hilo Tribune Herald, October 14, 1930

John M. Ross, manager of the Hakalau Plantation, is so pleased at the work these boys have been doing that he has promised any graduate of the Hakalau FFA Chapter a piece of land to cultivate under the same basis of contracts as regular farmers. - Excerpt from article about Mr. Choi's visit to Hakalau (left)

1929. Waichi Ouye Weeding Cane

1930. Waichi Ouye Plowing

1929. These are the Future Farmer of America boys who won the inter-club basketball championship of Hakalau school. Left to right, front row: Takeshi Teruya, Yoshio Oba, Minoru Meguro, captain; Shigeo Isaki, Sadayoshi Furamoto; back row, Taft Penarosa, Kuwambu Morita, Waichi Ouye and Seiko Miyashiro.