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1917
The Smith Hughes national vocational educational act establishes vocational agriculture courses. -
1925
Virginia Tech agriculture education teacher educators Henry C. Groseclose, Harry W. Sanders, Walter S. Newman, and Edmund C. Magill organized the Future Farmers of Viginia for boys in agriculture classes. The FFV serves as the model for the Future Farmer of America -
1927
H.O. Sargent, which is a federal agent for agriculture education of African Americans at the US office of education, and G.W. Owens, which is a teacher trainer at Virginia state college, and wrote the first constitution and bylaws for the New Farmer of Virginia, which is an organization for African American agriculture students. The organization holds its first state rally. -
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 -
1928
The first national FFA convention is held in Kansas City, Mo.: 33 delegates from 18 states are in attendance. And Leslie Applegate from New Jersey is elected the first national FFA president. -
1929
National blue and corn gold are adopted as official FFA colors. And Carlton Patton from Arkansas named the first Star Farmer of America. -
1930
The official FFA Creed, written by E.M. Tiffany, is adopted. And delegates restrict FFA membership to boys only. And the first official Dress uniform is adopted: dark blue shirt, blue or white pants, blue cap, and yellow tie. -
1931
The National FFA Radio Program on NBC is launched. -
1932
A charter is granted to the Puerto Rico FFA Association. -
1933
The blue corduroy jacket was adopted as the official dress. A group of FFA officers and members made a pilgrimage to Washington, D.C, where they were greeted on the White House lawn by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. -
1935
David Simmons of Alabama is elected as the first national NFA president. And active FFA membership exceeds 100,000 members. -
1937
During the national FFA convention, the action was taken to establish a national FFA camp and leadership training school in Washington, D.C. -
1939
Identical twins named Albert and Arthur Lacy from Hondo, Texas became the only members ever to share the title of Star Farmer of America. And the H.O. Sargent Trophy Award is created to honor H.O. Sargent’s commitment to helping NFA members to achieve success and leadership in agriculture. -
1942
The FFA members join in the war effort. And three former FFA members, Robert Gray from Texas, Travis Hoover from California, and Melvin Jordan from Oklahoma served with Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle and participate in the famous air raid in Tokyo. -
1944
The first National FFA agriculture proficiency award is presented for agricultural mechanics. And 138,548 FFA members served in the armed services in World War II. -
1946
The attendance at the national FFA victory convention was 12,500. Those in attendance honored 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 performed at the national FFA convention. Abd the national FFA Officers went to the first Goodwill Tour visiting businesses, industrial firms, and organizations. -
1948
The first FFA chorus and national FFA Talent program was held at the National FFA Convention. The best record jump in membership from 238,269 in 1947 to 260,300 in 1948. So many members, almost 10,000 attended the 20th national FFA convention, and that a folding cot hotel is set up in the basement of the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. -
1948
The first FFA chorus and national FFA Talent program was held at the national FFA convention. And the best Record jump in membership from 238,269 in 1947 to 260,300 in 1948. So many members, almost 10,000 attended the 20th national FFA convention that a folding cot hotel is set up in the basement of the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. -
1949
The first International exchange program for FFA members beginners with the Young Farmers Club of Great Britain. -
1949
The first international exchange Program for the FFA members with the Young Farmers Club of Great Britain in 1950. -
1950
The 81st U.S. Congress passes a bill that grants a federal charter to the Future Farmers of America. President Harry S. Truman signs the bill on Aug. 30, and it became Public Law 81-740. The Rhode Island FFA association, with five chapters and 82 members, is chartered-FFA is in all 48 states, and plus the Territory of Hawaii and Puerto Rico. -
1950
The 81st U.S. Congress passes a bill that grants a federal charter to the Future Farmers of America. President Harry S. Truman signs the bill on Aug. 30, and it became Public Law 81-740. The Rhode Island FFA Association, with five chapters and 82 members, is chartered FFA is in all 48 states, plus the Territory of Hawaii and Puerto Rico. -
1952
The FFA Code of Ethics is adopted. And the first issue of The National Future Farmer magazine was published. -
1952
The FFA Code of Ethics was adopted. And the first issue of The National Future Farmer magazine is published. -
1953
President Dwight D. Eisenhower speaks at the national FFA convention with the first U.S. president and then receives an Honorary American Farmer Degree. The U.S. Post Office Department issues a special 3 cent postage stamp the cost of mailing a first-class letter then to celebrate the 25th anniversary of FFA. The first stamps were released in Kansas City. -
1955
Photo of an 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
The first national FFA center is dedicated in Alexandria, Va., on land that was once part of George Washington’s estate. And an FFA camp had been located here earlier. -
1964
The 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 Agricultural Career Show and which is now called expo 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. Nixon speaks at the national FFA convention. And Nixon was elected U.S. president the following month. -
1969
FFA opened membership to females, making it possible for them to hold office and participate in competitive events at regional and national levels. And Ken Dunagan from Arizona was named the first American Star in Agribusiness. -
1970
New York’s Anita Decker and New Jersey’s Patricia Krowicki became the first two female delegates to the national convention. -
1971
The National FFA Alumni Association is established. And the Building Our American Communities program begins. -
1973
FFA Official Dress standards are created. And the national FFA Secretary Fred McClure from Texas was the first African American elected to a national FFA office. -
1974
President Gerald Ford speaks at the national FFA convention. And the speech was carried live on network television. -
1975
Jimmy Carter, former Georgia governor and a former member of the Plains. The FFA Chapter speaks at the national FFA convention. Carter was elected U.S. president that following year. And the first FFA Student Handbook was published. -
1976
Julie Smiley from Washington was elected national FFA vice president and is the first female to hold a national FFA office. And Alaska becomes the last of the 50 states to obtain a national charter. -
1978
President Jimmy Carter speaks at the 51st National FFA convention again, this time as a U.S. president. -
1979
Christe Peterson from Wisconsin won the first Extemporaneous Public Speaking Event. -
1980
The national FFA foundation raised $1 million in one year for the first time. -
1982
Jan Eberly from California became the first female national FFA president. -
1983
Ag Ed Network, And the organization’s computerized information service, launches. -
1984
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 Future Farmers of America changes its name to the National FFA Organization to reflect the growing diversity in agriculture. And Seventh and eighth-grade students was permitted to become FFA members. -
1989
The National Future Farmer magazine changes its name to FFA New Horizons.