History

In 1922, Tulare High School hired its first Agriculture Teacher and the Tulare High School Agriculture Education was born. In 1928 at a convention in Kansas City, the Future Farmers of America was organized based on a club started in 1920 in Virginia. During that same year in 1928, Tulare FFA was chartered as Chapter 16 of the California Association. The Tulare High School Agriculture Program has always maintained a strong hands-on approach to Agriculture Education through its use of its 90 acres facility consisting of full livestock facilities, Ornamental Horticulture laboratory, commercial dairy operation and the 60 acre crop science laboratory. Originally, the dairy was Guernsey herd which shipped to Nielsens on J st. in Tulare. In 1964 the dairy switched to a predominantly Holstein herd which was shipped to Dairyman’s Cooperative Creamery Association. In 2008 the dairy changed its herd to a Jersey herd and continued shipping milk to Land O Lakes in Tulare (formerly Dairyman's Cooperative Creamery Association). In the 1966-67 school year Tulare FFA’s name was changed to Tulare Union FFA, while a new chapter was born; Tulare Western FFA. This was to accommodate students at the new Tulare Western High School, while Tulare High School became Tulare Union High School. These two chapters were operated in one program over the next 40 years. In 2008, the Tulare Joint Union High School District opened Mission Oak High School on the east side of Tulare. Again, a major change came to the Tulare Agriculture Education Program, the Tulare Western FFA chapter was dropped and the Tulare Union chapter was renamed Tulare FFA and students from all three high schools would fill the roster. Over the past 98 years, students of the Tulare High School Agriculture Program have earned recognition both State and Nationwide for their accomplishments. Tulare FFA students have developed leadership skills, personal growth, and pursued career success from their participation in the Tulare Agriculture Program. Here is a recount of the legacy and accomplishments of our students and community.