Events in FFA History

Smith-Hughes Act

Aug 29, 1917

The Smith-Hughes Act established a Vocational Agriculture course. This was training for an agriculture career, you had to farm afterwards.

FFV

Aug 29, 1925

Henry Groseclose and others from Virginia meet to discuss an organization for boys in agriculture classes. The FFV (Future Farmers of Virginia) is made.

American Royal Livestock Show

Aug 29, 1926

The American Royal Livestock show took place in Kansas City, MO. Vocational Ag students were invited to judge.

FFA

Jan 29, 1928

Picture Link FFA (Future Farmers of America) is established.

FFA Colors

Jan 29, 1929

Picture Link National Blue and Corn Gold are made the official FFA colors.

Star Farmer of America

Oct 29, 1929

Picture Link
The Star Farmer of America award is given to Carldon Patton of Arkansas.

FFA Creed

Aug 29, 1930

Picture Link
The official creed by E.M. Tiffany is adopted.

FFA Manual

Nov 30, 1930

Picture Link
The first FFA manual is printed.

Official Jacket

May 30, 1933

Picture link
The blue, corduroy jacket is added to the official dress.

Members meet the President

Aug 30, 1933

Picture Link
FFA officers and members go to Washington, D.C. They are met on the front lawn by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Membership

Aug 30, 1935

Picture LinkFFA membership passes 100,000.

Twins win the Star Farmer Award

Aug 30, 1939

A set of identical twins become the only members to ever share the Star Farmer Award.

WW II

Jan 30, 1944

Picture Link138,548
FFA members are serving in WWII.

FFAF

Aug 30, 1944

The Future Farmers of America Foundation was formed in Washington, D.C.

FFA Band

Aug 30, 1947

Picture Link
The first National FFA Band performs at the national FFA convention.

FFA Membership Jump

Jun 30, 1948

A record jump happens in FFA membership. It goes from 238,269 members in 1947 to 260,300 members in 1948.

FFA Week

Nov 30, 1948

Picture Link
The first National FFA Week is celebrated.

Public Law 81-740

Aug 30, 1950

Picture Link
President Harry S. Truman signs a bill that specifies that a U.S. Department of Education staff member be the national FFA advisor. It becomes Public Law 81-740.

FFA Magazine

Aug 30, 1952

Picture Link
The first issue of The National Future Farmer magazine comes out.

FFA Stamp

Aug 30, 1953

Picture Link
The U.S. Post Office Department issues a special stamp for the FFA.

President Speaker

Dec 30, 1953

Picture Link
President Dwight D. Eisenhower is the first U.S. President to speak at the national FFA convention.

Harry S. Truman

Aug 30, 1957

Former President Harry S. Truman speaks at the national FFA convention.

NFA + FFA

Aug 30, 1965

The New Farmers of America merges with the Future Farmers of America.

Career Show

Aug 30, 1966

The first FFA National Agricultural Career Show is held at the national FFA convention.

Richard Nixon

Aug 30, 1968

Picture Link
Presidential candidate Richard Nixon comes to the national FFA convention in Kansas City.

FFA Washington Conference

Jan 30, 1969

The FFA Washington Conference starts.

Girls join FFA

Aug 30, 1969

Picture Link
FFA membership opens up to girls.

Official Dress

Aug 30, 1973

Picture Link
FFA dress standards are created.

Fred McClure

Apr 30, 1974

Fred McClure becomes the first African-American elected to national FFA office.

Food for America

Aug 30, 1975

The Food for America program begins.

Alaska Joins FFA

May 30, 1976

Picture Link
Alaska becomes the last of the states to get a national charter.

Julie Smiley

Dec 30, 1976

Julie Smiley becomes the first girl elected to a national FFA office.

$1 Million

Aug 30, 1980

Picture Link
The National FFA Foundation raises $1 million in one year.

Jan Eberly

Aug 30, 1982

Jan Eberly becomes the first female to be the national FFA president.

Name Change

Mar 30, 1988

Picture Link
The Future Farmers of America changes its name to National FFA Organization.

7/8 Graders Join

Aug 30, 1988

Picture Link
FFA opens FFA up to 7th and 8th graders.

FFA New Horizons

Aug 30, 1989

Picture LinkFFA New Horizons becomes the new name for The National Future Farmer.

New FFA Charters

Aug 30, 1991

Picture Link
FFA chapters in the Virgin Islands, Guam, and Micronesia are chartered.

Corey Flournoy

Aug 30, 1994

Corey Flournoy becomes the first African-American to become national FFA president.

ffa.org

Aug 30, 1996

Picture Link
The offical FFA website debuts.

National FFA Convention Moves

Mar 30, 1999

Picture Link
The national FFA convention takes place in Louisville, KY for the first time.

National Creed Speaking

Aug 30, 1999

Picture Link
Micheal Von Winkle wins the first National Creed Speaking event.

Karlene Lindow

Aug 30, 2002

Karlene pic
Karlene Lindow becomes the first female Star Farmer.

Javier Moreno

Aug 30, 2003

Picture Link
Javier Moreno is elected the first national FFA president to speak a native lauguage. He is also the first from Puerto Rico.

Seeds of Hope

Aug 30, 2005

Picture Link
FFA launches Seeds of Hope, a fundraising campaign to help raise money to rebuild Gulf Coast states' agricultural education following Hurricane Katrina.

Membership breaks 500,000

Aug 30, 2007

Picture LinkFFA membership breaks half a million with 500,823 members in 7,358 chapters.

FFA New Horizons

Dec 30, 2007

Picture Link
FFA New Horizons adds a new feature, www.ffanewhorizons.org.

Larry Case

Aug 30, 2010

Picture Link
Dr. Larry Case retired after 26 years as a national FFA advisor.

National Alumni Association

Aug 30, 2011

Picture Link
The National FFA Association has it's 40th year anniversary.

American FFA Degrees

Aug 30, 2012

Picture LinkFFA members earn 3,449 American FFA Degrees, setting a record.