FFA

  • 1917

    both senator Hoke Smith and representative Dudley Hughes were from Georgia establishes vocational agriculture courses. Otherwise known as the Smith Hughes Act.
  • 1925

    Henry C.Groseclose, Harry W. Sanders, Walter S. Newman, and Edmund C. Magill organized the Future Farmers Of Virginia
  • 1928

    The Future Farmers of America was founded in Kansas. Leslie Applegate was elected as the first national FFA president
  • 1929

    National blue and corn gold were adopted into the FFA, and the first FFA manual was written
  • 1930

    Offical creed was adopted
  • 1931

    The national FFA radio program on NBC was launched
  • 1932

    a charter is granted to the Puerto Rico FFA Association
  • 1933

    The blue corduroy was adopted as the first official FFA dress
  • 1935

    NFA is founded as a national organization at the Tuskegee Institue in Alabama
  • 1937

    During the National FFA Convention action is taken to establish a national FFA camp and leadership training school in Washington DC
  • 1939

    28.5 acres of land is purchased near Alexandri Va for the first FFA owned national headquarters the land was once part of George Washington’s estate
  • 1942

    Many FFA members join the war
  • 1944

    The Future Farmers of America Foundation is formed in Washington DC to raise money for FFA programs and activities
  • 1946

    Attendance at the National FFA Victory Convention is 12,500
  • 1947

    The first National FFA Band performs at the National FFA Conventio
  • 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 the Young Farmers Club of Great Britain
  • 1950

    The 81st US 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
  • 1953

    The US Post Office Department issues a special 3cent 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

    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

    The FFA sells its one-millionth jacket
  • 1965

    NFA merges with FFA increasing FFA membership by more than 50,000
  • 1966

    The 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
  • 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
  • 1974

    President Gerald Ford speaks at the National FFA Convention the speech is carried live on network television
  • 1975

    Food for America program launches
  • 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 US presiden
  • 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 air
  • 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 US 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 leade
  • 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
  • 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 open
  • 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
  • 2010

    Dr. Larry Case retires after 26 years as national FFA advisor
  • 2011

    The National FFA Alumni Association celebrates its 40th anniversary
  • 2012

    Patrick Gottsch donates $1 million on behalf of RFD-TV to the National FFA Organization the single-largest unrestricted donation in the organization’s history
  • 2013

    Sherene Donaldson is named the first female national FFA executive secretary
  • 2014

    FFA members earn a record 3,765 American FFA Degrees
  • 2015

    FFA announces the national convention and expo to move to Indianapolis from 2016-24. First Lady Michelle Obama gives video greetings to attendees at the national convention and expo
  • 2016

    National FFA Alumni membership jumps to 225,891 members up from 62,705 in 2015
  • 2017

    Convention delegates recommendations to alter Official Dress and the opening ceremony get approval from the National FFA Board of Director
  • 2018

    The board of directors voted to rename the National FFA Alumni Association to National FFA Alumni and Supporters and change its bylaws to operational policies the National FFA Alumni Council becomes the National FFA Alumni and Supporters Advisory Committee
  • 2019

    FFA celebrates 50 years of female membership in the organization