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 Henry C. Groseclose Harry W. Sanders Walter S. Newman and Edmund C. Magill organize the future farmers of Virginia (FFV) for boys in agriculture classes. The FFV serves as the model for the Future Farmers of America.
  • 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 and organization for African-Americans agriculture students. The organization holds its first state rally that same year.
  • 1928

    future farmers of America is established in Kansas city Mo
  • 1929

    national blue and corn gold ar adopted as official FFA colors
  • 1930

    Official FFA, 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 FFA Assocation
  • 1933

    Blue corduroy jacket is adopted as official 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 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 Gray from Texas Travis Hoover from California and Melvin Jordan from Oklahoma serve with than Lt. Col. Jimmy Dolittle and participate in the famous air raid on Tokyo
  • 1944

    The Future Farmers of American 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.
  • 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.
  • 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

    first national FFA center is dedicated in Alexandria Va on land that was once part of George Washington 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 then 50,000.
  • 1966

    first FFA national agricultural career show ( now called expo) is held at the national FFA convention to highlights educational and career opportunities in agriculture
  • 1967

    Elmer J. Johnson helps develop the FFA archives 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 Nowicki became the first two female delegates to the national convention
  • 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 bush is elected U.S. president the following year.
  • 1988

    the future farmers of America changes its name to national FFA organization to reflect the growing diversity in agriculture
  • 1989

    the national future farmer magazine change its name to FFA New Horizons
  • 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 students leader
  • 1996

    H.O. Sargent award is reinstated promoting diversity among chapters.
  • 1996

    the official website for the FFA debuts
    www.ffa.org
  • 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.
  • 1999

    72an national FFA convention is held in Louisville Ky with 46,918 in attendance
  • 2000

    the national FFA Archives at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) opens.
  • 2003

    "only blue will do" campaign focuses on restoring the official FFA jacket colors to the true national blue and corn gold as well as providing a superior-fitting jacket
  • 2005

    National FFA launched seeds of hope a fundraising campaign to rebuild gulf coast states agriculture education and FFA programs following hurricane katrina
  • 2006

    the 79th national FFA convention is held in Indianapolis for the first time with 54,589 in attendance. the FFA foundation announces its first $1 million contribution to the ford motor company.
  • 2007

    FFA membership exceeds the half-million mark with 500,823 members in 7,358 chapters
  • 2009

    FFA celebrates 40 years of women in the organizaton
  • 2014

    5 FFA jackets are added to the Smithsonian's national museum of American history
  • 2015

    the FFA emblem is newly refreshed to modernize the FFA brand
  • 2017

    Breanna Holbert from California is the first African-American female to be elected national FFA president
  • 2018

    President Donald Trump speaks at the national FFA convention & expo
  • 2019

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