Nation’s First Agriculture Society Sows Seeds of a Flourishing Future

The Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, founded in 1785 by a Who’s Who of revolutionary Philadelphians, celebrated its first class of student members In a Friday ceremony at Lankenau Environmental Magnet High School.

The 23 new members attend five Pennsylvania schools—Lankenau, the W.B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences, Ephrata High School, the Albert M. Greenfield School and St. Joseph’s Prep. Their schools are home to youth chapters of FFA (Future Farmers of America) and MANRSS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences). Both organizations foster leadership, personal growth, professional development and community through agricultural education.

PSPA President, Dr. Tiffany Turrentine, welcomed students, parents, teachers and advisors to the event and presented the students with a membership certificate, a book chronicling the history of PSPA, a lapel pin and a pack of America250PA trading cards that celebrate PSPA founders’ contributions to the new nation’s agricultural, political and intellectual life.

The guest of honor was Philadelphia City Council Member at Large and ardent advocate for Lankenau’s preservation, Dr Nina Ahmad. Dr. Ahmad encouraged the new members to meet “the challenge of providing healthy food and other agricultural products to tomorrow’s growing population—while sustaining the health of our soil, air, and water.”

Students, Cecelia Henderson of Lankenau H.S. and Maryam Morrison of Saul H.S., noted their interest in urban agriculture and expressed their enthusiasm in joining a society dedicated to agricultural excellence and innovation.

With student input, the Society will develop useful, relevant and memorable student centered programs and will continue its efforts to attract student members from throughout the mid-Atlantic area.