20 February 19

This is the middle of National FFA Week. Just as "KFC" no longer trumpets the words behind its initialism, the organization historically known as the Future Farmers of America now goes by "FFA," because its interests are truly global and extend far beyond barns and cornfields. National FFA Week always falls (or springs up?) in the full week that includes 22 February, the birthday of George Washington. He always "thought of himself first as a farmer" who "devoted his life to the improvement of American agriculture." He experimented with all kinds of soils and fertilizers to improve crop yields. When Beth gave me this tie for Christmas, she included the suggestion to wear tractors for National FFA Week! The tail of the tie asks "Were you born in a barn?"