FFA History

  • 1917

    The Smith-Hughes National Vocational Education Act, (both Senator Hoke Smith and Representative Dudley Hughes were from Georgia) establishes vocational agriculture courses.
  • 1925

    Virginia tech agricultural education teacher educators Henry C. Groseclose, Harry W. Sanders, Walter S. Newman, and Edmund C. Magil organize the FFV for boys in agriculture classes.
  • 1926

    The first 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 agricultural education for African Americans at the U.S. Office of Education, and G.W. Owens, a teacher-trainer at Virginia state college, write the first constitution and bylaws for the New Farmers of Virginia, an organization for African-American agriculture students.
  • 1928

    Leslie Applegate from New Jersey is elected first National FFA president.
  • 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.
  • 1937

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

    28.5 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

    FFA members join in the war effort. Three former FFA members-Robert Grey 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

    138,548 FFA members served in the armed services in World War II.
  • 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.
  • 1948

    First FFA week is celebrated during the week of George Washington's birthday.
  • 1949

    The first international exchange program for FFA members begins with Young Farmers Club of Great Britain.
  • 1950

    The Rhode Island FFA Association, with 5 chapters and 82 members, is chartered-FFA is in all 48 states, plus then Territory of Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
  • 1952

    The FFA Code of Ethics is adopted.
  • 1953

    FFA membership reaches 363,369 members.
  • 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

    FFA holds its first national leadership training conference for state officers in Washington, D.C.
  • 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

    Ken Dunagun from Arizona is named the first American Star in Agribusiness.
  • 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

    First FFA student handbook is published.
  • 1976

    Julie Smiley for 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

    Seventh and eighth grade students are permitted to become FFA members.
  • 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 Flourney from Illinois is the first African-American to be elected national FFA president; he is also the first urban student leader.
  • 1996

    The official website for FFA, FFA.org, debuts.
  • 1997

    The first Agri-Entrepreneurship Award is presented.
  • 1998

    The National FFA Center in Indianapolis is dedicated on July 20.
  • 1999

    Michael Van Winkle from Arkansas wins the first national creed speaking event.
  • 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

    Karlene Lindow from Wisconsin is named American Star Farmer. Lindow is the first female to receive this award.
  • 2003

    "FFA Live!" launches on RFD-TV.
  • 2004

    The first live webcast of the National FFA Convention premiers on FFA.org.
  • 2005

    The National FFA Foundation tops the $10 million mark in raising money in one year for FFA programs and services.
  • 2006

    The National FFA Foundation announces its first $1 million contribution from the Ford Motor Company.
  • 2007

    The FFA Merchandise Center opens in Indianapolis.
  • 2008

    The FFA member networking site, FFA Nation (now defunct), launches.
  • 2009

    FFA celebrated 40 years of women in the orginization.
  • 2010

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

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

    National FFA Foundation receives a record of more than $16.2 million in support of FFA.
  • 2013

    Sherene Donaldson is named 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.
  • 2016

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

    Alumni membership hits an all-time high with 344,239 members in 2,051 chapters.
  • 2018

    Platinum sponsor John Deere commemorates 75 years of partnership with FFA.
  • 2019

    Student membership hits an all-time high with 700,170 members in 8,612 chapters.