History
The Farmville Jaycees were founded in 1940 and brought to the Town by the Richmond Jaycees in an effort to spread the good will of the Jaycees to other communities. During their founding year, the Farmville Jaycees focused on the war efforts by collecting tin, paper and fat meats to be used in helping defend the country. This was the beginning of the national and global focus that we also promote.
One of the main efforts for the town of Farmville was numbering all of the homes in the town limits. This was a problem, if someone’s house was on fire, when it was reported it could only be done by the names of the resident and if that person was not known then the fire department did not know where to go.
In the 1950’s, the Jaycees started the Farmville Christmas Parade, it started as children being able to visit with Santa and receive a bag of candy and has since developed into the full fledged parade you see in the pictures on our site.
During the 1960’s, the Farmville Jaycees helped combat the Polio epidemic by organizing immunization clinics at the local fire departments. They would put the drops of medicine on sugar cubes and give the cubes to the children to take.
Also during the 60’s the Jaycees were responsible for founding the Prince Edward County Rescue Squad. Previous to the rescue squad, people who needed emergency medical care either had to wait for a doctor to do a house call which was common during that time or the local funeral homes would come to pick up patients in the hearses and take them to the hospital.
In 1985, the Farmville Jaycees became one of the first to allow women into their organization. Previous to this groundbreaking event, the women were in their own organization call the Jaycettes.
As you enter through town you may notice beautiful slate Welcome to Farmville signs, those were given on behalf of the Farmville Jaycees.
These are a few examples of how the Farmville Jaycees were founded on the values that are still held strong today.