Timeline: Events in FFA History

Aug 29, 1917

Smith-Hughes Act

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

Aug 29, 1925

FFV

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

Aug 29, 1926

American Royal Livestock Show

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

Jan 29, 1928

FFA

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

Jan 29, 1929

FFA Colors

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

Oct 29, 1929

Star Farmer of America

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

Aug 29, 1930

FFA Creed

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

Nov 30, 1930

FFA Manual

Picture Link
The first FFA manual is printed.

May 30, 1933

Official Jacket

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

Aug 30, 1933

Members meet the President

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

Aug 30, 1935

Membership

Picture LinkFFA membership passes 100,000.

Aug 30, 1939

Twins win the Star Farmer Award

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

Jan 30, 1944

WW II

Picture Link138,548
FFA members are serving in WWII.

Aug 30, 1944

FFAF

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

Aug 30, 1947

FFA Band

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

Jun 30, 1948

FFA Membership Jump

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

Nov 30, 1948

FFA Week

Picture Link
The first National FFA Week is celebrated.

Aug 30, 1950

Public Law 81-740

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.

Aug 30, 1952

FFA Magazine

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

Aug 30, 1953

FFA Stamp

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

Dec 30, 1953

President Speaker

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

Aug 30, 1957

Harry S. Truman

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

Aug 30, 1965

NFA + FFA

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

Aug 30, 1966

Career Show

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

Aug 30, 1968

Richard Nixon

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

Jan 30, 1969

FFA Washington Conference

The FFA Washington Conference starts.

Aug 30, 1969

Girls join FFA

Picture Link
FFA membership opens up to girls.

Aug 30, 1973

Official Dress

Picture Link
FFA dress standards are created.

Apr 30, 1974

Fred McClure

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

Aug 30, 1975

Food for America

The Food for America program begins.

May 30, 1976

Alaska Joins FFA

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

Dec 30, 1976

Julie Smiley

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

Aug 30, 1980

$1 Million

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

Aug 30, 1982

Jan Eberly

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

Mar 30, 1988

Name Change

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

Aug 30, 1988

7/8 Graders Join

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

Aug 30, 1989

FFA New Horizons

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

Aug 30, 1991

New FFA Charters

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

Aug 30, 1994

Corey Flournoy

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

Aug 30, 1996

ffa.org

Picture Link
The offical FFA website debuts.

Mar 30, 1999

National FFA Convention Moves

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

Aug 30, 1999

National Creed Speaking

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

Aug 30, 2002

Karlene Lindow

Karlene pic
Karlene Lindow becomes the first female Star Farmer.

Aug 30, 2003

Javier Moreno

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

Aug 30, 2005

Seeds of Hope

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