| The Future Farmers of Thailand Organization (FFT) was
initialized at Maejo College of Agriculture in
1961 with the full strength supported by the Maejo administrative;
Vipata B. Wangsai, Director, Prasong Vorayos,
Suraphol Sanguansri and Dham Tesna. The FFA (Future Farmers of
America) philosophy and agricultural education program in the
U.S. was applied to be used at Maejo.
Sawang Rimpana,
was the first FFT student president of Maejo Chapter. Sanom Yaikaew
was later the student president in 1962.
The Star Farmers, in 1962 was Udom Lodwan, Pen Manit,
Somboon Komolnak, Thongyoi Buasri and Napa Rayanak.
This was the
great start of FFT program in Thailand. The FFT program was then
introduced into many agricultural colleges and in the high schools to
develop the vocational agriculture education throughout the country.
During
1971-1976 the FFT activity at Maejo was very successful and welknown
throughout the country. The FFT was accepted by the
Ministry of Education and was teaching in the secondary schools and
vocational agricultural colleges. During this period, I was the
local chapter advisor at Maejo and joined many occasions. Aj.
Thepprasong Vorayos was the key man of the FFT project
who made the FFT Maejo jackets attractive to all vocational agriculture
schools in Thailand. The FFT alumni members are playing big
role in many colleges and schools. Many of them are
members of the Maejo University administrative board at present.
Many of the FFT Maejo alumni members became the principal in many
vocational schools.
I received an
honorary FFA pin from Cass Chapter, Indiana in 1965. I
presented the FFA jacket to Maejo Student Union later in 1993 for the
FFT Museum at Maejo.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thepprasong Vorayos
,
The Founder of FFT
Program in Thailand
passed away on
September 19, 1998 at his age of 66.
The Texan
Cowboy
The First Maejo Cowboy |
He has
initiated successfully FFT program for the students at Maejo.
He was the key man in the vocational agriculture education development of
the country. He dedicated most of his tasks and
time for Maejo. The FFT alumni members and Maejo
students understand what Dr. Thepprasong has willingly and successfully
done for Maejo University.
Dr.Thepprasong Vorayos associated with many
international organizations involved education i.e. USOM, USAID, USDA,
JICA
and many other non government organizations. He joined
and associated with those agencies involved Maejo
development program in almost three decades of his teaching at
Maejo.
Dr. Thepprasong
was the Principal Investigator of the vegetable
improvement project for the Royal Project in 1983
funded by USDA/ARS. He was welknown by the USAID and
USDA people in many research and
development programs.
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Helm Junior High School FFA Officers
Sanguan Chantalay, FFT guest from Maejo Chapter, Thailand in
1965.
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