If you Google “The best kept secret” the AI overview says “The best-kept secret” generally refers to something valuable or positive that is known to only a small number of people, often intentionally or unintentionally. It implies a hidden gem or a well-protected piece of knowledge that many are unaware of.” This phrase could be applied to Comer Skinner’s FFA Museum on his Shadybrook Farm nears Hopkins, Michigan.
I accidentally learned about this museum a year or so ago while searching the Internet for information for a Friday Footnote. It was an accidental find. Since I was speaking at the Fountain Park Chautauqua in Remington, Indiana last July, I decided to make a side trip up into Michigan to see if I could find the museum. The museum was off the beaten path, but I found it. It has to be a destination since a person would not normally be driving through Hopkins on their way someplace.
Figure 1. This must be the place. I am standing by the sign in front of the museum. I decided to park in the reserved FFA space. I wonder what is behind the red door?
In searching for the museum all I had was a street address – 3360 132nd Avenue, Hopkins, Michigan. I trusted my GPS to find it. However, when the road I was on changed from pavement to dirt, I began to wonder. But the GPS did not let me down. The museum is located several miles from Hopkins on a dirt road.
Since I arrived unannounced, I started looking for Comer. He was on a nearby hillside bush hogging the pasture. He saw me walking around and came to investigate. He was very gracious and invited me into the museum.
Figure 2. Comer Skinner inside the FFA Museum.
As a student, Comer was an active member of the Hopkins FFA chapter. Since then he has twice been president of the Hopkins FFA Alumni and has received the Honorary American Degree from the National FFA. An article published in The Grand Rapids Press on June 14, 2005 provides more detail about Comer and the Museum. See Figure 3.
Figure 3. From The Grand Rapids Press, June 14, 2005. Note the phone number does not work.
The FFA Museum has a Facebook page but it has not been updated in a while – https://www.facebook.com/TheFFAMuseum. However, there are some really neat photos of the state degree pin minus the eagle from the 1930s, an old FFA style campaign cap, a1930 era yellow FFA tie, first day releases of the FFA stamp, plus more on the Facebook site.
The display cases in the museum are full of FFA artifacts and memorabilia. See Figure 4.
Figure 4. Some of the items displayed at the FFA Museum.
There is a meeting room adjacent to the Museum. It is also full of interesting objects.
Concluding Remarks
It was a pleasure meeting Comer Skinner and to view the FFA Museum. If you want to visit the FFA Museum don’t show up unexpected like I did but contact Comer at 269-225-9152 or at comeskinffa@gmail.com.
This visit got me to thinking about what we, as a profession, are doing to preserve our FFA Heritage. Sadly, not much. In North Carolina we have 40 foot long historical display at the state FFA camp in White Lake, NC but it is typically not open to the public except during the summer camping season.
Figure 5. The FFA Historical Display at the North Carolina FFA Camp. It contains the cotton scale from the Dudley Hughes farm, Rufus Stimson’s typewriter, A NFA jacket, Plaster of Paris officer stations, interactive recordings of FFA and NFA songs, plus much more. Click on these QR code links (FFA songs, NFA Songs) and then use the camera on your smart phone to connect to the links and listen to the songs.
In Ohio the state FFA Center is located on the state Fair Grounds in Columbus. There is an Archive Room in the Center where historical items are displayed. In chapter 6 of the booklet “History of the Ohio FFA Center” there are a couple of photos of the historical displays.
There is a small museum dedicated to Henry Groseclose, one of the FFA founders, in Ceres, Virginia. It is located in the ag building where Groseclose taught and is maintained by the Ceres Alumni Association. It was featured in a past Friday Footnote. It is open by appointment by calling 276-682-4380 or 276-682-4587.
I have not been at the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Camp lately, but at one time there were some interesting historical displays in one of the buildings. They are probably still there. At Virginia Tech there is a historical room in the Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education. The table around which the founders of the FFA sat is displayed.
I would guess other states may have FFA historical displays. If your state has some type of FFA museum or historical display, please let me know and I will compile a list of them to share with the profession.
I know of several individuals in Wisconsin, Virginia, South Dakota, Nebraska and Utah who have amassed healthy collections of FFA memorabilia. I have several rare FFA items in my collection such as National FFA Scrapbooks from the 1930s. It would be nice if they could be displayed someplace.
At the National FFA Headquarters in Indianapolis there is a historical display in the Rotunda. Since 1928 marks the 100th anniversary of the FFA this might be a good time to initiate a campaign to build a real, comprehensive National FFA Museum that is open full time. It could be located in Indianapolis and would be a great attraction as people travel “The Crossroads of America” (which is the state motto of Indiana).