Texas Grandpa Receives His FFA Jacket 66 Years Later

By |2019-02-11T15:57:00-05:00August 10th, 2017|Features, FFA Membership, Gift of Blue, The Feed, Top|
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This is a story that will make you #FFAproud.

Bill Harrell grew up in a small Texas town and fell in love with FFA as a student. He became a member of the Wolfe City FFA Chapter in 1951 and later became a chapter officer. Harrell was active in many FFA activities – he raised cattle and hogs – but his family could never afford an FFA jacket before he graduated in 1955.

That didn’t stop Harrell from continuing the tradition of FFA in his family. Over time, his son and grandsons have all become FFA members at his urging. Along the way, Harrell made sure each of them had FFA jackets to show their pride in the national blue and corn gold.

Harrell recently reached the ripe age of 80 years old, and his grandsons made it a mission to gift their grandfather something he always wanted: an FFA jacket.

From Leslie Harrell’s Facebook page:

One thing Bill always wanted was a FFA jacket. His family could not afford one. Bill worked after school and summers to assist with family finances.

Bill instilled the love for FFA to his son and three grandsons. He made sure that each of them received a FFA jacket. His youngest grandson currently holds an office with Crandall FFA. It was his idea to gift him a jacket for his 80th birthday. Bill is an active member of Crandall Parents and Friends of 4-H and FFA. He attends every event and helps secure donations for our annual auction that raises money to purchase our members animals at Kaufman County Junior Livestock Show. Bill has been involved with Crandall Parents and Friends of 4-H and FFA for 39 years as either a parent, community supporter or grandparent. He has not missed an auction for Crandall or for the Kaufman County Junior Livestock Show since they began.

Watch the moment Bill received his FFA jacket – 66 years later:

Posted by Leslie Frazier Harrell on Thursday, August 10, 2017

 

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