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The National Vocational Education Act
• The National Vocational Education Act(better known as the Smith-Hughes Act) provides funding to
states for vocational education courses. (Sen. Hoke Smith and Rep. Dudley Hughes – both
representing Georgia in the U.S. Congress – are the sponsors. President Woodrow Wilson signs the
act into law on Feb. 23, 1917.) -
Future Farmers of America (FFA)
Future Farmers of America (FFA) is established at a meeting in Kansas City, Mo. -
National FFA Convention
• Thirty-five state associations with approximately 1,500 chapters and 30,000 members are now
affiliated with the national organization.
• National blue and corn gold are adopted as official FFA colors -
Official FFA Creed written by E.M. Tiffany is adopted.
First national public speaking event is held. Winner: Edward Drace, Missouri -
Blue corduroy jacketis adopted as official dress
A group of FFA officers and members travelto Washington, D.C., where they
are greeted on the White House lawn by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. -
• New Farmers of America is founded in Tuskegee, Ala
Active FFA membership exceeds 100,000 members. -
A bill is passed by the 81st Congress of the United Statesthat grants FFA a federal charter and specifies that a U.S. Department of Education staff member be the national FFA advisor.
On Aug. 30, President
Harry S. Truman signs the bill, and it becomes Public Law 81-740. -
New Farmers of America
• New Farmers of Americamerges with the Future Farmers of America. -
FFA opens membership to girls
• FFA opens membership to girls, making it possible for them to hold office and participate in
competitive events at regional and national levels.
• First National Star in Agribusiness, Ken Dunagan from Arizona, is named.
• FFA Washington Conference (now called Washington Leadership Conference, or WLC) begins -
Future Farmers of America changes its name to National FFA Organization
Future Farmers of America changes its name to National FFA Organization to better reflect the
expanded agricultural opportunities encompassing science, business and technology, in addition to
production farming.
• FFA opens membership to seventh- and eighth-grade students.
• Agriscience Student Recognition Program is introduced. -
• FFA Discovery Degree is available for middle school FFA members
Discovery Degree is available for middle school FFA members.
• The National FFA Archives at Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis opens -
• First National Star in Agriscience is named: Steven Offer, Wisconsin.
First National Star in Agriscience is named: Steven Offer, Wisconsin.
• First National Star in Agricultural Placement is named: Nicholas Streff, South Dakota. -
• Official Dressstandards are revised.
• First female Star Farmer is named: Karlene Lindow, Wisconsin
• Official Dressstandards are revised. -
• Javier Moreno, Puerto Rico, is elected national FFA president;
Javier Moreno, Puerto Rico, is elected national FFA president; he becomes the first Puerto Rican and
the first person with a native language other than English elected as national FFA president. -
• National FFA launches Seeds of Hope
• National FFA launches Seeds of Hope, a fundraising campaign to help rebuild Gulf Coast states’
agricultural education and FFA programs following Hurricane Katrina; $835,699 in donations is
distributed to affected programs.
• FFA Foundation breaks the $10 million mark in raising money for FFA programs and services.
• National FFA convention is held in Louisville, Ky., for the last time -
National FFA Foundation receives its first $1 million contribution
National FFA Foundation receives its first $1 million contribution, from the Ford Motor Company
