FFA History

Smith-Hughes Act

1917

Provided funding for agriculture for vocational agriculture courses

Future Farmers of Virginia

1925

Agricultural education teacher educators Henry C. Groseclose, Harry W. Sanders, Walter S. Newman and Edmund C. Magill met at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) and organized Future farmers of Virginia (FFV) for boys in agriculture classes. FFV would become the model for Future Farmers of America.

First Livestock Judging Contest

1926

First National Congress of Vocational Agriculture Students assembled for a National Livestock Judging contest at the American Royal Livestock and Horse Show in Kansas City, Mo.

First Constitution for Future farmers of Virginia

1927

H.O. Sargent and G.W. Owens wrote the first constitution and bylaws of the New Farmers of Virginia, an organization for African American agriculture students. New Farmers of Virginia held its first state rally that same year.

First National FFA Convention

1928

First National FFA Convention held in Kansas City: 33 delegates from 18 states in attendance.

Official Colors

1929

National blue and corn gold adopted as official FFA colors

Official FFA Creed

1930

Official FFA Creed, written by E.M. Tiffany, adopted.

Puerto Rico FFA Association

1932

Charter granted to Puerto Rico Association

Official Jacket

1933

Blue Corduroy jacket adopted as FFA official dress

Tuskegee Institute

1935

New Farmers of America (NFA) founded at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.

National FFA Camp

1937

During National FFA Convention, action was taken to establish a national FFA camp and leadership training school in Washington, D.C.

FFA Headquarters

1939

Land purchased in Virginia for first FFA-owned national headquaters.

Participation in war

1942

FFA members joined in the war effort. Three former FFA member Robert Gray from Texas, Travis Hoover from California and Melvin Jordan from Oklahoma served with then Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle and participated in the famous air raid on Tokyo.

Future Farmers of America Foundation

1944

future Farmers of America Foundation formed in Washington, D.C.

12,500

1946

Attendance at 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

FFA Band

1947

First Official FFA band performance

Too many people

1948

So many people attended the National convention that folding cots had to used for chairs

The National Future Farmer

1952

"The National Future Farmer" Magazine published it's first issue

25th

1953

25th anniversary for FFA

NFA and FFA

1965

The NFA and the FFA merged together, making the FFA membership increase 50,000.

Career show

1966

The First Agriculture Career Show, at National FFA Convention.

Nixon spoke

1968

President Nixon, canidate at the time, spoke at FFA convention.

Girls

1969

Girls allowed to join FFA

BOAC

1970

BOAC Program began : Building our American Communities

FFA Alumni Association

1972

National FFA Alumni Association founded

African American

1974

First African American to hold National FFA Office. Fred McClure

Student Handbook

1975

First FFA student handbook published

Alaska

1976

Alaska Became the last of 50 states to get FFA charter.

Kansas city

1978

Commemorative marker noting site of FFA founding revealed at Kansas City.

Christie Peterson

1979

Christie Peterson won the first Extemporaneous Public Speaking Event.

One million dollars

1980

National FFA Foundation rasies One million dollars in one year for the first time.

Female president

1982

First Female National FFA president: Jan Eberly from California

AG ED Network

1983

AG ED Network: computerized information service: launched

FFA TV announcement

1984

First FFA TV public service announcement broadcast.

National Television

1987

First National FFA convention broadcast on National Televison.

7th and 8th

1988

FFA membership allows seventh and eighth graders.

FFA New Horizons

1989

"The National Future Farmer" becomes "FFA New Horizons"

PALS

1990

Partners in Active Learning Support or PALS, program launched

Corey Flourony

1992

Corey Flourony becomes first african american to be National FFA persident

Indianapolis

1996

FFA announced decision to move The National FFA center from Alexandria VA to Indianapolis

Agri-Entrepreneurship

1997

First Agri-Entrepreneurship Awards presented

Louisville

1999

National FFA Convention held in Louisville for the first time.

Discovery degree

2001

FFA discovery degree avalible for middle school ffa members

75 years

2002

75th national convention: 50th convention time capsule opened.

FFA Live

2003

FFA Live! Went on RFD-TV

Live webcast

2004

First Live webcast of national FFA con is on FFA. org

10 million dollars

2005

FFA foundation makes $10 million by rasing money in FFA programs and services.

500,000

2010

Membership hits all-time high with 523,309 members.

Alumni's 40th

2011

National FFA Alumni Association: 40th annaversiary.

Last year

2012

Last year FFA national convention held in Indianapolis.