FFA history

  • 1917

    the smith Hughes nation vocational education Act est vocational agriculture courses
  • 1925

    Virginia Tech agricultural education teacher educators Henry c Groseclose, harry w sanders, walter s Newman, and Edmund c Magill FFV fro boys ag class FFV serve as a model for FFA.
  • 1926

    the 1st national congress of vocation ag student assembles for a national livesstock judging contest at the American royal livestock and horse show in Kansas city, mo.
  • 1927

    H.O. Sargent a federal agent for Ag education for African Americans at the u.s. office of education and G.Wowens a teacher trainer at Virginia state college write the first constitution and bylaws.
  • 1928

    FFA is in Kansas city Montanan.
  • 1929

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

    official FFA creed was written by e m tiffany is adopted
  • 1931

    the national FFA radio program on NBC is launched
  • 1933

    blue corduroy jacket is adopted as official dress
  • 1935

    active FFA membership exceeds 100,000 members
  • 1937

    during the national FFA convention action os taken to est a nation FFA camp and leadership training school in washington D.C
  • 1939

    the H.O Sargent trophy award is created to honor H.O Sargents commitment to helping the NFA members achieve success and leadership in ag
  • 1942

    during the war years, national conventions are streamed events attendants only by delegates and award winners in 1942just 217

    people attend the convention
  • 1944

    138,548 FFA members serve in the armed service in world war 2
  • 1946

    attendance at the national FFA victory convention is 125000 those in attendance honor the 260450 FFA members who served and the 7188 who paid the supreme sacrifice to lose there life
  • 1947

    the first national FFA band performs at the national FFA conventions
  • 1948

    national FFA supply service begins operating
  • 1949

    the first international exchange programs for FFA members begins with young farmers club of great britten
  • 1950

    the road 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

    the first issue of the national future farmer's magazine is published
  • 1953

    FFA membership reaches 363,369 members
  • 1955

    photo of American star farmers joe Moore ks 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 state officers in washington D.C
  • 1964

    FFA sells its one million jacket
  • 1965

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

    1st FFA national ag career show is held at the national FFA convention to show education and career opportunities in ag
  • 1967

    Elmer j johnson helps develop the FFA archives at the national FFA center
  • 1968

    president candidate Nixon speaks at national FFA convention then he is elected president the following month
  • 1969

    ken Dunagan from Arizona is named the first American star in ag business
  • 1970

    NJ Anita decker and new jersey Patricia krowicki become the first two female delegates to the national convention
  • 1971

    the national FFA alumni association is est
  • 1973

    FFA texas Fred McClure first African American to an a national officer
  • 1974

    president ford speaks at the national FFA convention the speech is carried live on the network television
  • 1975

    The first FFA student handbook is publidhed.
  • 1976

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

    President jimmy carter speaks at the first 51st national FFA convention again this time as president
  • 1979

    christe Peterson from Wisconsin wins the first extemporaneous public speaking event
  • 1980

    the national FFA fundraiser raises 1 million in one year for the first time
  • 1982

    jan Eberly from cal becomes the first female national president
  • 1983

    the Ag network the organization computers information service launches
  • 1984

    the first FFA TV public service announcement 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 U.S. president the following yea
  • 1988

    he Future Farmers of America changes its name to the National FFA Organization to reflect the growing diversity in agriculture.• Seventh and eighth grade students are permitted to become FFA members. • 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.• National convention delegates vote to raise the number of official voting delegates to 475 based on proportional representation
  • 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

    promoting diversity among chapters. • FFA announces its decision to move the National FFA Center from Alexandria, Va.,
  • 1997

    The first Agri-Entrepreneurship Award is presented.
  • 1998

    he 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.
  • 1999

    he 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 ev
  • 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.
  • 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

    he 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.• 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

    Dr. Larry Case retires after 26 years as national FFA advisor.• FFA celebrates the 75th anniversary of the founding of NFA.
  • 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.
  • 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.• National FFA Foundation receives a record of more than $16.2 million in support of
  • 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
  • 2014

    FA 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.• First Lady Michelle Obama gives video greetings to attendees at the national convention and expo.• Membership in the National FFA Alumni Association reaches 62,705 alumni.
  • 2016

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

    onvention delegate recommendations to alter Official Dress and the opening ceremony get approval from the National FFA Board of Directors. • Breanna Holbert from California is the first African-American female to be elected national FFA president.