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the smith Hughes national vocational education act (both senator hoke smith and representative Dudley Hughes were from Georgia) establishes vocational agriculture courses.
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Virginia Tech agricultural education teacher educators Henry C. Groseclose, Harry W. Sanders, Walter S. Newman, and Edmund C. Magill organized the Future Farmers of Virginia (FFV) for boys in agriculture classes. The FFV serves as the model for the Future Farmers of America.
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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.
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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. The organization holds its first state rally that same year.
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Future Farmers of America is established in Kansas City, Mo.• First National FFA Convention is held in Kansas City, Mo.: 33 delegates from 18 states are in attendance.
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National blue and corn gold are adopted as official FFA colors.• Carlton Patton from Arkansas is named the first Star Farmer of America. This is one of the first awards created by FFA, and it was sponsored until 1949 by the Kansas City Star.
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During the National FFA Convention, action is taken to establish a national FFA camp and leadership training school in Washington, D.C.
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Official FFA Creed, written by E.M. Tiffany, is adopted
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The National FFA Radio Program on NBC is launched.
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A charter is granted to the Puerto Rico FFA Association.
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Blue corduroy jacket is adopted as an Official Dress.
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NFA is founded as a national organization at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.
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During the National FFA Convention, action is taken to establish a national FFA camp and leadership training school in Washington, D.C.
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28.5 acres of land is purchased near Alexandria, Va., for the first FFA-owned national headquarters; the land was once
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FFA 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.
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The Future Farmers of America Foundation is formed in Washington, D.C., to raise money for FFA programs and activities.
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The first National FFA Band performs at the National FFA Convention.
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The first National FFA Band performs at the National FFA Convention.
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The first FFA Chorus and National FFA Talent program is held at the National FFA Convention.
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The first International Exchange Program for FFA members begins with Young Farmers Club of Great Britain.
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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.
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The first issue of The National Future Farmer magazine is published.
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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.
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Photo of American Star Farmer Joe Moore is on the cover of Time magazine.
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Former President Harry S. Truman speaks during the National FFA Convention.
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The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis presents NFA with a Certificate of Appreciation.
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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.
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FFA sells its one-millionth FFA jacket.
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NFA merges with FFA, increasing FFA membership by more than 50,000.
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First FFA National Agricultural Career Show (now called expo) is held at the National FFA Convention to highlight educational and career opportunities in agriculture.
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Elmer J. Johnson helps develop the FFA archives at the National FFA Center.
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residential candidate Richard M. Nixon speaks at the National FFA Convention. Nixon is elected U.S. president the following month.
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FFA opens membership to females, making it possible for them to hold office and participate in competitive events at regional and national levels.
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New York’s Anita Decker and New Jersey’s Patricia Krowicki become the first two female delegates to the national convention.
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The National FFA Alumni Association is established.
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FFA Official Dress standards are created.
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President Gerald Ford speaks at the National FFA Convention. The speech is carried live on network television.
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Food for America program launches.
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Julie Smiley from Washington is elected national FFA vice president and is the first female to hold a national FFA office.
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President Jimmy Carter speaks at the 51st National FFA Convention again, this time as a U.S. president.
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Christe Peterson from Wisconsin wins the first Extemporaneous Public Speaking Event.
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The National FFA Foundation raises $1 million in one year for the first time.
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Jan Eberly from California becomes the first female national FFA president.
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The Ag Ed Network, the organization’s computerized information service, launches.
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The first FFA TV public service announcements air.
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The first Agriscience Teacher of the Year Award is presented to Steven McKay from Boonville, Calif.
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The first national television satellite broadcast of the National FFA Convention airs.
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The Future Farmers of America changes its name to the National FFA Organization to reflect the growing diversity in agriculture.
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The National Future Farmer magazine changes its name to FFA New Horizons.
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The Partners in Active Learning Support (PALS) program launches.
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FFA chapters in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam, along with five chapters in Micronesia, are chartered.
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Corey Flournoy from Illinois is the first African-American to be elected national FFA president; he is also the first urban student leader.
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H.O. Sargent Award is reinstated, promoting diversity among chapters.