-
1917
The Smith-Hughes National Vocational Education Act establishes vocational agriculture courses -
1925
Virginia Tech agricultural education teacher educators Henry C. Groseclose, Harry W. Sanders, Walter S . Newman, and Edmund C. Magill organize the Future Famers of Virginia (FFV) for boys in agriculture classes. -
1926
The Frist National Congress of Vocational Agriculture Students assembles for a National Livestock Judging Contest at the American Royal Livestock and Horse Show in Kansas City, MO. -
1927
H.O. Sargent. a federal agent for AG education for African-Americans at the U.S Office of Education -
1928
The Future Farmers of America is established in Kansas city -
1929
National blue and corn gold are adopted as official FFA colors -
1930
Official FFA Creed, written by E.M. Tiffany, is adopted -
1931
The National FFA Radio Program on NBC is launched -
1932
A charter is granted to the Puerto Rico FFA Association -
1933
Blue corduroy jacket is adopted as Official Dress -
1935
NFA is founded as a national organization at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. David Simmons of Alabama is elected as the first national NFA president. Active FFA membership exceeds 100,000 members. -
1937
During the National FFA Convention, action is taken to establish a national FFA camp and leadership training school in Washington, D.C. -
1939
8.5 acres of land is purchased near Alexandria, Va., for the first FFA-owned national headquarters; the land was once part of George Washington’s estate. -
1942
FA members join in the war effort. Three former FFA members—Robert Gray from Texas, Travis Hoover from California and Melvin Jordan from Oklahoma—serve with then Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle and participate in the famous air raid on Tokyo. -
1944
The Future Farmers of America Foundation is formed in Washington, D.C., to raise money for FFA programs and activities. -
1946
Attendance at the National FFA “Victory Convention” is 12,500. Those in attendance honor the 260,450 FFA members who served and the 7,188 who paid the supreme sacrifice, losing their lives in the war. -
1947
The first National FFA Band performs at the National FFA Convention. National FFA Officers go on the first Goodwill Tour, visiting business and industrial firms and organizations. -
1948
The first FFA Chorus and National FFA Talent program is held at the National FFA Convention. -
1949
The first International Exchange Program for FFA members begins with Young Farmers Club of Great Britain. -
1950
The 81st U.S. Congress passes a bill that grants a federal charter to Future Farmers of America. President Harry S. Truman signs the bill on Aug. 30, and it becomes Public Law 81-740. -
1952
The FFA Code of Ethics is adopted. First issue of The National Future Farmer magazine is published -
1953
The U.S. Post Office Department issues a special 3-cent postage stamp—the cost of mailing a first-class letter then—to celebrate the 25th anniversary of FFA. The first stamps are released in Kansas City, Mo., during the National FFA Convention. -
1955
Photo of American Star Farmer Joe Moore is on the cover of Time magazine. -
1957
Former President Harry S. Truman speaks during the National FFA Convention. -
1958
The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis presents NFA with a Certificate of Appreciation. -
1959
The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis presents NFA with a Certificate of Appreciation. -
1959
First National FFA Center is dedicated in Alexandria, Va., on land that was once part of George Washington’s estate. An FFA camp had been located here earlier. -
1964
FFA sells its one-millionth FFA jacket. -
1965
NFA merges with FFA, increasing FFA membership by more than 50,000. -
1966
First FFA National Agricultural Career Show (now called expo) is held at the National FFA Convention to highlight educational and career opportunities in agriculture. -
1967
Elmer J. Johnson helps develop the FFA archives at the National FFA Center. -
1968
Presidential candidate Richard M. Nixon speaks at the National FFA Convention. Nixon is elected U.S. president the following month. -
1969
FFA opens membership to females, making it possible for them to hold office and participate in competitive events at regional and national levels. -
1970
New York’s Anita Decker and New Jersey’s Patricia Krowicki become the first two female delegates to the national convention. -
1971
The National FFA Alumni Association is established. -
1973
FFA Official Dress standards are created.
National FFA Secretary Fred McClure from Texas is the first African-American elected to a national FFA office. -
1974
President Gerald Ford speaks at the National FFA Convention. The speech is carried live on network television. -
1975
Food for America program launches.
Jimmy Carter, former Georgia governor and a former member of the Plains (Ga.) FFA Chapter, speaks at the National FFA Convention. Carter was elected U.S. president the following year. -
1976
Julie Smiley from Washington is elected national FFA vice president and is the first female to hold a national FFA office. -
1978
President Jimmy Carter speaks at the 51st National FFA Convention again, this time as a U.S. president. -
1979
Christe Peterson from Wisconsin wins the first Extemporaneous Public Speaking Event. -
1980
The National FFA Foundation raises $1 million in one year for the first time. -
1982
Jan Eberly from California becomes the first female national FFA president. -
1983
The Ag Ed Network, the organization’s computerized information service, launches. -
1984
The first FFA TV public service announcements air. -
1986
The first Agriscience Teacher of the Year Award is presented to Steven McKay from Boonville, Calif. -
1987
The first national television satellite broadcast of the National FFA Convention airs. -
1988
The Future Farmers of America changes its name to the National FFA Organization to reflect the growing diversity in agriculture. -
1989
The National Future Farmer magazine changes its name to FFA New Horizons. -
1990
The Partners in Active Learning Support (PALS) program launches. -
1991
FFA chapters in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam, along with five chapters in Micronesia, are chartered. -
1994
Corey Flournoy from Illinois is the first African-American to be elected national FFA president; he is also the first urban student leader -
1996
H.O. Sargent Award is reinstated, promoting diversity among chapters -
1997
The first Agri-Entrepreneurship Award is presented. -
1998
The National FFA Center in Indianapolis is dedicated on July 20.
The Agricultural Education National Headquarters is dedicated in Alexandria, Va. -
1999
The National FFA Convention is held in Louisville, Ky., for the first time with 46,918 in attendance. -
2000
The National FFA Archives at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) opens. -
2001
Steven Offer from Wisconsin is named the first American Star in Agriscience. -
2002
The 75th National FFA Convention is held in Louisville, Ky. To celebrate this special event, the time capsule from the 50th National FFA Convention is opened. Special guest Muhammad Ali is recognized at Reflections to honor the growing diversity of the National FFA Organization. -
2003
Javier Moreno from Puerto Rico is elected national president; he becomes the first person with a native language other than English and the first Puerto Rican elected to this office -
2004
The first live webcast of the National FFA Convention premieres on FFA.org. -
2005
National FFA launches Seeds of Hope, a fundraising campaign to rebuild Gulf Coast states’ agricultural education and FFA programs following Hurricane Katrina; $835,699 in donations is distributed to affected programs. -
2006
The 79th National FFA Convention is held in Indianapolis for the first time, with 54,589 in attendance -
2007
The FFA Merchandise Center opens in Indianapolis. -
2008
The FFA member networking site, FFA Nation (now defunct), launches. -
2009
FFA celebrates 40 years of women in the organization.