FFA History

  • 1917

    The smith Huges National Vocational education Act establishes vocational agriculture courses
  • 1925

    Virginia Tech agriculutral education teacher educators Henery C. Groseclose, Harry W. Sanders, Walter S. Newman, and Edmund C. Magill organized the Future Farmers of Virginia for boys in agricultural classes
  • 1926

    The first National Congress Of Vocatinioal Agriculture students assembles for a National livestock Judging contest.
  • 1929

    National Blue and corn gold are adopted as official FFA colors.
  • 1927

    H.O. Sargent, a federal agent for agricultural education for African Americans.
  • 1928

    Future Farmers of America is established in Kansas City MO. First national FFA Convention is held in Kansas City, MO 33 delegates from 18 states are in attendence.
  • 1930

    Official FFA creed, Written by E.M. Tiffany, is adopted.
    The first official dress uniform is adopted: dark blue shirt, blue or white pants, Blue cap, and yellow tie. FFA membership to boys only
  • 1931

    The National FFA radio Program on NBC is launched
  • 1932

    A character is granted to the Puerto Rico FFA assosiation
  • 1933

    Blue corduroy jacket is adopted as Official Dress
  • 1935

    Active FFA membership exceeds 100,000 members
  • 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
  • 1942

    FFA members join the war effort
  • 1944

    The Future Farmers of America Foundation is formed in Washington DC to raise money for FFA
  • 1946

    Attendance at the national FFA ¨victory Convention¨ is 12,500
  • 1947

    The first national FFA band performs
  • 1948

    First FFA week is celebrated on Gorge Washington's birthday
  • 1949

    The first national Exchange program for FFA members begins with young Farmers club of great britian
  • 1950

    The 81st U.S. Congress passes a bill that grants a federal character to Future Farmers of America. It becomes public law 81-740
  • 1952

    The FFA code of Ethics is adopted. The first issue of The National Future Farmer magazine is published.
  • 1953

    FFA membership reachers 363,369 members.
  • 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 Apperciation
  • 1959

    FFA holds its first National leadership Training Conference for state officers in washingtopn DC
  • 1964

    FFA sells its one million FFA jacket
  • 1965

    NFA merges with FFA Delegates vote to increase FFA membership dues from 10 cents to 50
  • 1966

    First FFA national Agricultural career show
  • 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 Nixon is elected U.S. president the following month
  • 1969

    FFA opens membership to females making it possible for them to hold office and to compete
  • 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 strands are created
  • 1974

    President Gerald Ford speaks at the National FFA convention
  • 1975

    First FFA Student handbook is published
  • 1976

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

    President Jimmy Carter speaks at the 51st National FFA Convention again, this time as the U.S. president
  • 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 launches
  • 1984

    The first FFA Tv public service announcements air
  • 1986

    The first national teacher of the year award is presented
  • 1987

    Vice president George H.W. speaks at the national FFA convention. And he is elected the following year
  • 1988

    They change the name to the National FFA Organization. Seventh and eighth-grade students are permitted to become FFA members
  • 1989

    The National Future Farmer magazine changes its name to FFA new horizions
  • 1990

    Delegates vote ¨no¨ to a new FFA creed
  • 1991

    FFA chapters are charted
  • 1994

    Corey Flournoy from Illinois is the first African American to be elected President
  • 1996

    The official website for FFA, FFA.org,debutes
  • 1997

    The first Agri-Entrepreneurship Award is presented
  • 1998

    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 attendence
  • 2000

    Delegates at the National FFA Convention FFA degrees for middle school students.
  • 2001

    Steven Offer from Wisconsin is named the first American Star in Agriscience
  • 2002

    Official dress standard are revised
  • 2003

    ¨FFA live!¨ launches on RFD-TV also providing a superior-fitting jacket
  • 2004

    The first live webcast of the National FFA Convention Premiers 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 National FFA Foundation announces its first $1 million controbution
  • 2007

    FFA membership extends to the half-million mark
  • 2008

    The FFA member networking site, FFA Nation launches
  • 2009

    FFA celebrates 40 years of women in the organization
  • 2010

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

    The National FFA Alumni Association celebrates its 40th anniversary.
  • 2011

    The National FFA Alumni Association celebrates its 40th anniversary
  • 2012

    National FFA Foundation receives a record of more than $16.2 million in support of FFA. FFA members and supporters pack 1,005,048 meals during the national convention and expo’s FFA Rally to Fight Hunger.
  • 2013

    Ram Truck’s “So God Made a Farmer” Super Bowl commercial exceeds 18 million views on YouTube; the company donates $1 million to FFA.
  • 2014

    FFA members earn a record 3,765 American FFA Degrees. Five FFA jackets are donated to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The Give the Gift of Blue Program begins.
  • 2015

    Membership in the National FFA Alumni Association reaches 62,705 alumni. The organization’s official website, FFA.org, is updated to include a new look, a personalized dashboard, the resource My Journey, the FFA Resume Generator©, and the FFA Brand Center. The FFA emblem is also newly refreshed to modernize the FFA brand.
  • 2016

    National FFA Alumni membership jumps to 225,891 members, up from 62,705 in 2015.
  • 2017

    Alumni membership hits an all-time high with 344,239 members in 2,051 chapters.
  • 2018

    The 91st National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis has a record attendance of 69,944 members, advisors, supporters, and guests. The inaugural FFA Blue Room launches at the national convention and expo, showcasing cutting-edge technology, research, and innovation in agriculture.
  • 2019

    FFA celebrates 50 years of female membership in the organization. The National FFA Foundation celebrates its 75th anniversary.
  • 2020

    Student membership hits an all-time high with 760,113 members in 8,739 chapters. The Forever Blue Network is launched. For the first time in 50 years, the Washington Leadership Conference is canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 2021

    FFA celebrates 50 years of alumni membership.