FFA History

  • 1917

    The Smith-Hughes National Vocational Education Act Establishes vocational agricultural courses.
  • 1925

    Virginia Tech agricultural education teacher educators Henery C.Groseclose, Harry W.Sanders,Walter S.Newman and Edmund C.Magill organize the future Farmers Of America for boys in agriculture classes.
  • 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 agriculture education for african americans at the US office of education and G.W Owens a teacher trainer at virginia State College write the first constitution
  • 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 an Official Dress.
  • 1935

    NFA is founded as a national organization at the Tuskegee Institute 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 then Lt. Co. Jimmy Doolittle and participate in the famous air raid on Toyko.
  • 1944

    The Future Farmers Of America 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 the Young Farmers club of great britian.
  • 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 August 30, and it becomes public law 81-740.
  • 1952

    The FFA code of Ethics is adopted.
  • 1953

    FFA membership reaches 363,369 membership.
  • 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

    FFA holds its first National Leadership Training Conference for the state officers in Washington DC
  • 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 Agriculture 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 archives at the National FFA Center.
  • 1968

    Presidential candidate Richard M.Nixion speaks at the national FFA convention Nixion is elected U.S president the following month.
  • 1969

    Ken Dunagan from Arizona is named the first American star in Agribusiness.
  • 1970

    New Yorks Anita Decker and new Jerseys Patricia Krowicki become the first two female delegates to the national convention.
  • 1971

    The national FFA Alumni association is established.
  • 1973

    FFA Official Dress standards are created.
  • 1974

    President Gerald Ford speaks at the national convention the speech is carried live on network television.
  • 1975

    Food for America program launches
  • 1976

    Alaska becomes the last of the 50 states to obtain a national charter.
  • 1978

    President Jimmy Smiley from Washington is elected national FFA vice president and is the first female to hold a national FFA office.
  • 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.
  • 1884

    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 Agriscience Student Recognition Program is introduced.
  • 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 charted.
  • 1994

    Corey Foundry from Illinois is the first African American to be elected national FFA president he is also the first urban student leader.
  • 1996

    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 July 20.
  • 1999

    The National FFA Convention is held in Louisville Ky, for the first time with 46,918 in attendance.
  • 2000

    The National FFA Archives at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) opens.
  • 2001

    Steven Offer from Washinton is named the first American Star in Agriscience
  • 2003

    ¨ Only Blue will do!¨campaign focuses on restoring the official FFA jackets colors to the national blue and corn gold, as well as providing a superior-fitting jacket.
  • 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 Hurrican Katrina.
  • 2006

    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 organization.
  • 2014

    5 FFA jackets are added to the Smithsonian´s National Musem 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 And expo.
  • 2019

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