FFA History

  • 1917

    The Smith-Hughes National Vocational Education Act 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 (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 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 Virgina , an organization for African- American agriculture students. The organization holds its first state rally that same year.
  • 1930

    -The Official FFA Creed, written by E.M Tiffany is adopted.
    -The first official dress uniform is adopted.
    - The first FFA Manual was printed by The Farm Journal of Philadelphia.
  • 1931

    The national FFA Radio Program on NBC is lanched.
  • 1932

    A charter is granted to the Puerto Rico FFA Association.
  • 1933

    -Blue corduroy jacket is adopted as official dress
    -A group of FFA officers and members make a pilgrimage to Washington D.C; where they are greeted on the White House lawn by President Franklin D.Roosevelt
  • 1935

    -Active FFA membership exceeds 100,000 members
    -NFA is founded as a national organization at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama
    -David Simmons is elected the first national president of NFA
  • 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 purchased for the first FFA-owned National headquarters land purchased, the land was part of George Washington’s estate.
  • 1942

    • FFA members join in the war effort. Three former members Robert Gray, Travis Hoover, and Melvin Jordan serve and participate in the air raid in Tokyo
    • Delegates revise FFA membership rules to were time served in the armed forces will not count against them in determining a member's period of eligibiltiy
  • 1944

    -Future Farmers of America Foundation was formed to raise money from business, industry, government, individuals, and sponsors for FFA programs and activities. -138,548 FFA members served 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

    -First national FFA Band performance at National FFA Convention -FFA Week was established during the week of George Washington’s B-Day
  • 1948

    -First FFA Chorus and National FFA Talent program held at national FFA convention -Record jump in membership from 238,269 in 1947 to 260,300; so many members attended the 20th National FFA Convention that a folding-cot hotel was set up in the basement of the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City
  • 1949

    The first International Exchange Program for FFA members begins with the Young Farmers Club of Great Britain.
  • 1950

    -President Harry S. Truman signed the bill that became known as Public Law 81-740 : granted FFA a federal charter and specified that a U.S. Dept. of Education staff member be the national FFA advisor
  • 1952

    The 1st issue of The National Future Farmer magazine was published.
  • 1953

    The U.S. Post Office Dept. issued a special stamp to celebrate the 25th anniversary of FFA.
  • 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 Washington's estate. An FFA camp had been located here earlier.
  • 1964

    FFA sells its one-millionth FFA jacket.
  • 1965

    NFA merged with FFA, increasing FFA membership by more than 50,000.
  • 1966

    The first FFA National Agricultural Career show is held at the National FFA Convention to highlight educational and career opportunities in agriculture.
  • 1967

    Elmer J.Johnson helps develop the FFA archivers at the National FFA Center.
  • 1968

    Presidential candidate Richard M.NIxon speaks at the National FFA Convention. Nixion is elected U.S. President the following month.
  • 1969

    FFA opens membership to females.
  • 1970

    New Yorkś Anita Decker and New Jersayś Patricia Krowicki become the first two female delegates to the national convention.
  • 1971

    The National FFA Alumni Association is established.
  • 1973

    National FFA Secretary Fred McClure from the Texas FFA Association is the first African American elected to a national FFA Office.
  • 1975

    Jimmy Carter, former Georgia Governor and a former member of the Plains FFA chapter, speaks at the National FFA Convention. Carter was elected U.S. president the following year.
    -First FFA Student Handbook is published
  • 1976

    Julie Smiley from WA 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 Winsconsin 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, lanches.
  • 1984

    The first FFA T.V 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
    -Vice President George H.W Bush speaks at the National FFA Convention. Bush is elected President the following year.
  • 1988

    -The Future Farmers of America (FFA) changes its name to the National FFA Organization
    -Seventh and eighth-grade students are allowed 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. -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.
  • 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 Indianapolis. -FFA announces its decision to move the National FFA Convention from Kansas City, Mo., to Louisville, Ky., in 1999. -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.
    -The Agricultural Education National Headquarters is dedicated in Alexandria, Va.
    -The National FFA Convention is held in Kansas City, Mo., for the last time.
    -Jose Santiago from Puerto Rico is elected national FFA vice president. He is the first member from Puerto Rico to serve as a national FFA officer.
    -Public Law 81-740 is revised through the 105th Congress and replaced by Public Law 105-225 on Aug. 12.
  • 1999

    The National FFA Convention is held in Louisville, Ky., for the first time with 46,918 in attendance.
    - 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.
    -Delegates at the National FFA Convention approve the Discovery FFA Degree for middle school students.
  • 2001

    -Steven Offer from Wisconsin is named the first American Star in Agriscience.
    - 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. 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.
    -Karlene Lindow from Wisconsin is named American Star Farmer. Lindow is the first female to receive this award.
    - Official Dress standards are revised.
  • 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.
    - “Only Blue Will Do!” launches. The 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.
    -“FFA Live!” launches on RFD-TV.
  • 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.
    -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.
    -The National FFA Foundation announces its first $1 million contributions from the Ford Motor Company.
  • 2007

    -The FFA Merchandise Center opens in Indianapolis.
    - FFA membership exceeds the half-million mark with 500,823 members in 7,358 chapters.
    -FFA New Horizons adds online feature—FFAnewhorizons.org.
  • 2008

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

    -Dr. Larry Case retires after 26 years as national FFA advisor.
    - FFA celebrates the 75th anniversary of the founding of NFA.
    -Six college-age FFA members travel to Zambia for the FFA Global Outreach: Africa program.
  • 2011

    -The National FFA Alumni Association celebrates its 40th anniversary.
    -FFA celebrates Native Americans in FFA, agriculture and agricultural education during the 84th National FFA Convention.
    - Dr. Steve A. Brown is named national advisor/board chair.
  • 2012

    Patrick Gottsch donates $1 million on behalf of RFD-TV to the National FFA Organization, the single-largest unrestricted donation in the organization’s history.
  • 2013

    -Sherene Donaldson is named first female national FFA executive secretary.
    -Ram Truck’s “So God Made a Farmer” Super Bowl commercial exceeds 18 million views on YouTube; company donates $1 million to FFA.
    - FFA Today Radio Show debuts on SiriusXM’s RURAL RADIO channel.
  • 2014

    -FFA members earn a record 3,765 American FFA Degrees.
    -Five FFA jackets are donated to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
  • 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 delegate 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

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