Karlene Lindow Future Farmers of America Jacket

Karlene Lindow wore this blue corduroy jacket as a member of the Marshfield High School Future Farmers of America chapter in Chili, Wisconsin during the 1990s and 2000s. In 2002, Karlene was the first woman awarded the Star Farmer award, recognizing the nation’s top Supervised Agriculture Experience project for her success in raising Spotted Poland China hogs. The blue jacket has the seal of the FFA on the left breast, and the right breast reads “Karlene Lindow/National Star/Farmer Candidate” in yellow thread.

The FFA was founded in 1928 to engage and prepare young farmers for the future. In 1933 the band from the Fredericktown chapter of the FFA wore the blue corduroy jacket to the sixth annual convention, where the delegates became so enamoured with the jacket that it was adopted by the organization as its official dress.