-
Smith Hughes Act
Established vocational agriculture courses. -
The Future Farmers Of Virginia
Virginia Tech agriculture education teacher educators Henry C. Groseclose, Harry W. Sanders, Walter S. Newman, and Edmund C. Magill organized the Future Farmers of Virginia -
Livestock Judging
The First National Congress of Vocational Agriculture Students assembles for a National Livestock Judging Contest in Kansas City, Mo. -
Constitutions and Bylaws for the FFV
H.O. Sargent, a federal agent for agriculture education for African-Americans at the U.S. Office of Education, and G.W. Owens, a teacher-trainer at Virginia State College, write the first constitutions and bylaws for New Farmers of Virginia. -
1928
Future Farmers of America Established in Kansas City, MO
First National Convention in Kansas City, Mo
33 Delegates, 18 states
Leslie Applegate of New Jersey was elected to be the first National FFA President -
1929
Official Colors established
National Blue and Corn Gold
Carlton Patton from Arkansas was named Star Farmer of America
The First Official FFA Manual of the organization was written -
1930
Official FFA Creed was written by:
Written by E.M. Tiffany
First Official Dress uniform was adopted:
Dark blue shirt
Blue or white pants
Blue cap
Yellow tie
Delegates restrict membership to boys only
The first official FFA Manual was printed with a grant from the Farm Journal Press if Philadelphia, PA -
1933
Blue Corduroy jacket adopted as Official Dress -
1935
New Farmers of America was founded in Tuskegee, Alabama
Organization of African American young men
Active FFA membership exceeded 100,000 members -
1939
28.5 acres of land purchased for the first FFA-owned National headquarters land purchased, the land was part of George Washington’s estate. -
1944
Future Farmers of America Foundation was formed to raise money from business, industry, government, individuals, and sponsors for FFA programs and activities.
138,548 FFA members served in World War II -
1947
First national FFA Band performance at National FFA Convention
FFA Week was established during the week of George Washington’s B-Day -
1948
First FFA Chorus and National FFA Talent program held at national FFA convention
Record jump in membership from 238,269 in 1947 to 260,300; so many members attended the 20th National FFA Convention that a folding-cot hotel was set up in the basement of the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City -
1950
President Harry S. Truman signed the bill that became known as Public Law 81-740: granted FFA a federal charter and specified that a U.S. Dept. of Education staff member be the national FFA advisor -
1952
The 1st issue of The National Future Farmer magazine was published -
1953
The U.S. Post Office Dept. issued a special stamp to celebrate the 25th anniversary of FFA -
1964
FFA sells its one-millionth FFA jacket -
1965
NFA merged with FFA, increasing FFA membership by more than 50,000 -
1969
FFA opens membership to females, making it possible for them to hold office and participate in competitive events
The Washington Conference (now WLC) begins -
1971
FFA opens membership to females, making it possible for them to hold office and participate in competitive events
The Washington Conference (now WLC) begins -
1973
FFA official dress standards are created
National FFA Secretary Fred McClure from the Texas FFA Association is the first African American elected to a national FFA Office -
1976
Julie Smiley from WA is elected national FFA vice president and is the first female to hold a national FFA office
Alaska becomes the last of the 50 states to obtain a national charter -
1982
Jan Eberly from California becomes the first female national FFA president -
1988
The Future Farmers of America (FFA) changes its name to the National FFA Organization
To reflect the growing diversity in agriculture
Seventh and eighth-grade students are allowed to become FFA members -
1989
The National Future Farmer magazine changes its name to FFA New Horizons -
1996
The official website for the FFA debuts -
1999
72nd National FFA Convention is held in Louisville, Ky, with 46,918 in attendance
First national creed speaking event held -
2003
“Only Blue Will Do!” campaign focuses on restoring the official FFA jacket colors to the true national blue and corn gold, as well as providing a superior-fitting jacket. -
2005
National FFA launched Seeds of Hope, a fundraising campaign to rebuild Gulf Coast states’ agriculture 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 in one year for FFA programs and services -
2006
The 79th National FFA Convention is held in Indianapolis for the first time, with 54,589 in attendance
The FFA Foundation announces its first $1 million contributions to the Ford Motor Company -
2007
The FFA Merchandise Center opens in Indianapolis
FFA membership exceeds the half-million mark with 500,823 members in 7,358 chapters -
2009
FFA celebrates 40 years of women in the organization -
2014
FFA members earn a record 3,765 American FFA Degrees
5 FFA jackets are added to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History -
2015
The FFA emblem is newly refreshed to modernize the FFA brand -
2017
Breanna Holbert from California is the first African-American female to be elected national FFA president -
2018
The 91st National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis has a record attendance of 69,944
President Donald Trump speaks at the National FFA Convention & Expo -
2019
Student membership hits an all-time high with 700,170 members in 8,612 chapters