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BRIEF HISTORY
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| 1930 |
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A committee selected a site for a State FFA Camp located on Lake Catherine.
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Swinging Bridge, Lake Catherine
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1931
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The State Association of the FFA secured a lease on the 37 acres from the President of Power and Light Company, Mr. Harvey Couch, for whom the camp was named.
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1933
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The original rustic chapter house was dedicated. It stood where the present one stands today. Different chapters brought stones from their hometowns and built the fireplace. The present chapter house was built around this old fireplace which was left standing when the old building was torn down
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1935
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Through the combined efforts of the FFA members and their advisors, the camp site was purchased and deeded to the FFA State Organization.
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1943
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The state organization was incorporated as a non-profit organization and has operated the camp on this basis ever since.
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1950
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1,500 FFA members and their advisors repaired the camp on what was referred to as “Miracle Day." The committee set a date of ten years in which to pay for a chapter house and ten cabins 20’ X 36’ at 50 cents per member annually. Today, there is that chapter house, ten cabins, and three modern log cabins. |
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1969
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A new spacious dining hall was completed with seating for 500 and sleeping facilities in the basement for 200 persons.
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Now
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More than one million young people have spent one or more weeks at Couchdale enjoying the recreational activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, boxing, wrestling, pillow fighting, and other sports in addition to the educational advantages of forestry, soil conservation, cooperative training, and other leadership activities. |
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INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS
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Arkansas Green Industry and the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission have joined forces with Arkansas FFA to educate and inspire lifelong leadership through horticultural service learning.
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