FFA History

  • 1917

    The Smith- Hughes National Vocational Education Act, establishes vocational agriculture courses
  • 1925

    Virginia Tech agriculture education teacher educators Herny C. Groseclose, Harry W. Sanders, Walter S. Newman, and Farmers of Virginia for boys in agriculture classes. The FFA serves as the model for the Future Farmers of America.
  • 1926

    The first National Congress of Vocational Agriculture Students assembles for a National 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.
  • 1928

    Future Farmers of America is established in Kansas City, Mo.
  • 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 Insitute 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

    During the war year, national conventions are streamlined events, attended only by delegates and award winners
  • 1944

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

    Attendance at eh National FFA " Victory Convention" is 12,500.
  • 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 Rode Island FFA Association, with five chapters and 82 members, is charted- FFA is in all 48 states, plus the Territory of Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
  • 1952

    FFA issue of the " National Future Farmers" magazine is published
  • 1953

    The U.s. Post Office Department issues a special 3- cent postage stamp
  • 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 Apprecition.
  • 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

    The first FFA National Agricultural Career Show ( now called expo) is held at the National FFA Convention to highlight educational and career opportunities in agricultural
  • 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
  • 1969

    FFA opens membership to females
  • 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 Oficial Dress standards are created.
  • 1974

    President Gerald Ford speaks at the National FFA Convention
  • 1975

    The first FFA student Handbook is published.
  • 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.
  • 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 at the National FFA Organization.
  • 1989

    The National Future Farmers magazine changes its name to FFA New Horizons
  • 1990

    Delegates vote " no" to a new FFA Creed during the 63rd National FFA Convention.
  • 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
  • 1996

    FFA announces its decision to move from Kansas City, Mo., to Louisville, Ky., in 1999
  • 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

    Delegates at the National FFA Convention approve the Discovery FFA Degree for middle school students.
  • 2001

    Nicholas Streff from South Dakota is named the first American Star in Agricultural Placement.
  • 2002

    The 75th National FFA Convention is held in Louisville, Ky.
  • 2003

    " Only Blue Will Do!" launches. The campaign focuses on restoring the official FFA jacket colors to the true national blue and corn gold.
  • 2004

    The first live webcast of the National FFA Convention premieres 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 79th National FFA Convention is held in Indianapolis for the first time, with 54,589 in attendance.
  • 2007

    FFA membership exceeds the half-million mark with 500,823 members in 7,358 chapters.
  • 2008

    The FFA board of directors makes the decision to rotate the National FFA Convention between Louisville and Indianapolis, beginning with Louisville in 2013.
  • 2009

    FFA celebrates 40 years of women in the organization.
  • 2010

    FFA celebrates the 75th anniversary of the founding of NFA.
  • 2011

    FFA celebrates Native Americans in FFA, agriculture.
  • 2012

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

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

    FFA members earn 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

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

    The 91st National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis has a record attendance of 69,944 members, advisors, supporters, and guests.
  • 2019

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