The story of the Aplington-Parkersburg FFA Chapter is one built on perseverance, community support, and a deep commitment to agricultural education.

Parkersburg High School officially became chartered as the Beaver Valley F.F.A. Chapter on February 5, 1944. However, the roots of agricultural education in the community began several years earlier. Starting in 1939, a strong push from the editors of the Parkersburg Eclipse advocated for the introduction of vocational agriculture courses. Their efforts gained the attention of the school board and ultimately led to the hiring of the school’s first agricultural instructor, Mr. Arnold Kruse, in the spring of 1940. Although Mr. Kruse’s tenure was cut short due to illness, his work laid the foundation for future growth. Mr. Charles Shaw continued the program from 1941 to 1943. Both instructors made early attempts to establish a F.F.A. chapter during the challenges of World War II—efforts that, at the time, were not realized.

During the 1943-1944 school year, Mr. Arthur "Doc" Evans arrived and guided students through the successful process of earning an official F.F.A. charter. This achievement was especially significant given the historical context. With many young men serving in the war, F.F.A. membership and chapter formations declined nationwide. While it was common to see 8-12 new charters issued annually after 1935, only three were awarded in 1944 - making Parkersburg’s charter both rare and remarkable. The chapter’s establishment during such a difficult time speaks to the resilience and determination of the community.

A decade later, vocational agricultural education expanded in our neighboring community. Aplington Consolidated High School officially chartered the Aplington F.F.A. Chapter on October 1, 1954, under the leadership of advisor Mr. Vernon Herwig. In February of 1965, PHS rechartered as the Parkersburg F.F.A. Chapter, transitioning from its original Beaver Valley F.F.A. name.

The following decades brought collaboration, change, and growth across the area. In the early 1990s, Aplington FFA briefly shared programming with the Ackley FFA Chapter, which now continues today as the AGWSR FFA Chapter. Around the same time, Parkersburg welcomed New Hartford students into its program. During this period, the name South Butler FFA was used informally (1988–1992) as consolidation discussions progressed. The name South Butler FFA was applied for in a charter, but the Iowa FFA Association never granted that re-charter application. It was ultimately the correct decision. Although those two districts did not merge in the end, these efforts reflected a shared commitment to maintaining agricultural education opportunities for students.

Since then, New Hartford H.S. had merged with Dike H.S. in 1996 and from then until 2019, had not had a FFA Chapter. In 2019, Dike-New Hartford and Gladbrook-Reinbeck jointly chartered as T-55 FFA. In 2022, both Dike-New Hartford FFA Chapter and Gladbrook-Reinbeck FFA Chapter earned charters of their own and T-55 FFA was retired. Both of those chapters are now growing rapidly!

The Aplington-Parkersburg FFA Chapter, as it exists today, was officially chartered on November 17, 1992. Under the leadership of advisor Mr. Mike Weckworth, the unification of the Aplington and Parkersburg programs created a strong, forward-looking chapter built on the traditions of both schools. Since its formation, the A-P FFA Chapter has continued to grow into one of Iowa’s respected and emerging programs. With origins tracing back to 1944 through many name changes and consolidations, the chapter represents one of the longest-standing FFA traditions in the state. A-P FFA was the 115th charter issued statewide that still exists today.

Today, the chapter serves students from Allison, Aplington, Austinville, Kesley, Parkersburg, Stout and the surrounding communities. While the program continues to evolve, its foundation remains rooted in leadership development, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. As we honor the past, we remain committed to preserving our history for future generations. If you have stories, records, or information that contribute to the legacy of FFA in our community, we welcome you to share them with us!