Gov. Northam approves new Virginia license plates honoring the FFA

A bill proposed by a local lawmaker to let Virginians show support for a national organization born in the Valley has now been signed into law by Governor Ralph Northam.

The legislation is designed to allow Virginia's DMV to start producing license plates which proclaim "We are the birthplace of the FFA."

Del. Steve Landes proposed the

and Sen. Emmett Hanger carried the Senate version.

“As a former FFA Member, I am very proud of the long-standing, respected work of the FFA to promote agriculture in education," said Hanger. "Just as farming has evolved over the years, so has the FFA; it inspires our future leaders in STEM fields and agriculture as well as building personal leadership and government relations skills. I am pleased to patron the license plate legislation that will help to be a dedicated revenue source for the Virginia FFA.”

The plates will be available starting on July 1.

They are revenue-sharing special plates, which means some of the money from the annual fee for the plates will go to the Virginia FFA, while the rest goes to Virginia. The plates will cost you $25 a year.

The revenue sharing cannot begin until 1,000 of the plates are on the road though. Then, the minimum $15,000 generated each year will go to support educational efforts for the nearly 9,000 student members participating in 197 FFA chapters across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

“Future Farmers of America benefits more than 650,000 student members aged 12-21 in more than 8,500 chapters nationwide providing a wide range of agricultural education activities," said Landes. "This license plate is a great tribute to recognize and fund the exceptional work done by FFA and to acknowledge the Commonwealth’s role in its genesis.”

The FFA is the largest youth leadership organization in the world and it began right here in Weyers Cave in 1927.