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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. Magill organized the Future Farmers Of Virginia for boys is agriculture classes. The FFV serves as the model for the FFA.
  • 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 by-laws for the New Farmers of Virginia, an organization for African-American agriculture students. The organization holds its first rally that same year.
  • 1928

    Future Farmers of America is established in Kansas City, MO. The First National FFA convention is held in Kansas City MO, 33 delegates from states are in attendance. Leslie Applegate from New Jersey is elected the first national FFA president. The first sectional gathering of New Farmers of America members is held.
  • 1929

    National blue and corn gold are adopted as official FFA colors.
  • 1930

    Offical FFA creed written by E.M. Tiffany is adopted. First official Dress uniform is adopted dark blue shirt, blue or white pants, blue cap and yellow tie.
  • 1931

    The National FFA radio Program of NBC is launched.
  • 1932

    A chapter is granted to the Puerto Rico FFA Assoication.
  • 1933

    Blue corduroy jacket is adopted as an Official Dress.
  • 1935

    NFA is founded as a national organization at the Tuskegee Institue in Alabama. David Simmons of Alabama is elected as the first national NFA president.
  • 1937

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

    The H.O. Sargent Trophy Award was created to honor H.O. Sargent´s commitment to helping NFA members achieve success and leadership in agrinculture.
  • 1942

    During World War ll, delegates revise FFA membership rules so time served in the armed forces will not be determining a member period of eligibility.
  • 1944

    The Future Farmers of America Foundation is formed is Washingion, 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 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 Convention. National FFA Supply Service begins operation.
  • 1949

    The first International Exchange Program for FFA members begins with the 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 becomes Public Law 81-740.
  • 1952

    The FFA code of Ethics is adopted. The first issue of National Future Famer magazine is published.
  • 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 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 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. FFA holds its NAtional Leadership Training Conference for state officers in Washinton, 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 as 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 Nation 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 Krowicki become the first two female delegates to the national convention
  • 1976

    Julie Smiley from washington is elected national FFA vice president and is the first female to hold a national FFA office. Alaska becomes the last of the 50 states to obtain a national charter.
  • 1978

    President Jimmy Carter speaks at the 51st National FFA Convention again, this time as a U.S. president. The commemorative marker noting the site of the organization's founding is unveiled in Kansas City, Mo.
  • 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 organizations´ computerized information service launches.
  • 1984

    The first FFA TV public service announcements air.
  • 1986

    The first Agriscience Teacher of the Year Awar is printed to Steven Mckay from Boonville, Calif.
  • 1987

    The first national television satellite broadcast of the National FFA convention airs. Vice President George H.W. Bush speaks at National FFA Convention. Bush is elected U.S. president the following year.
  • 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 it name to FFA New Horizons.
  • 1990

    The Partners in Active Learning Support program launches. National convention delegates vote to raise the number of official voting delegates to 475 based on proportional representation. 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; he is also the first urban student leader
  • 1996

    H.O. Sargent Award is reinstated promoting diversity among chapters. FFA announces its decision to move the National FFA Center From Alexandria, Va, to Idianapolis.
  • 1997

    The first Agri-Entrepreneurship Award is presented.
  • 1998

    The national FFA Center is Indiana Polis is dedicated on July 20.
  • 1999

    The national FFA Convention is held in Louisille, KY for the first time with 46,918 in attendance.
  • 2000

    The National FFA Achives At Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis opens.
  • 2001

    Steven Offer from Wisconion 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.
  • 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

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

    The board of directors votes 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.
  • 2020

    Student membership hits an all-time high with 760,113 members in 8,739 chapters.
  • 2021

    FFA celebrates 50 years of alumni membership.