After serving as the National FFA executive secretary for more than 30 years, C. Coleman Harris retired this week. As executive secretary he helped set, maintain and oversee policy for the organization. He also was secretary of the National Council of Agricultural Education, a group that worked to develop strong school-based agricultural education at all levels.

The U.S. Department of Education provides two staff members to the National FFA to serve in Washington D.C. as national FFA advisor and executive secretary. Larry Case, longtime FFA advisor says he will miss Harris but is happy to celebrate his many accomplishments.

Harris has been involved in agricultural education and the FFA for nearly a half century. After graduating from Purdue University, he taught agriculture in Walton, Ind. for three years before becoming Indiana FFA executive secretary. In 1967 he joined the National FFA as an education program specialist.

A search has begun to fill the executive secretary position with the National FFA.