FFA History

Smith-Hughes Act

1917

The Smith-Hughes National Vocational Education Act (both Smith and Hughes were Georgia Congressmen) established vocational agriculture courses.

Virginia Tech Agriculture

1925

Virginia Tech agricultural education teacher educators Henry Groseclose, Harry Sanders, Walter S. Newman and Edmund C. Magill organized the Future Farmers of Virginia for boys in agriculture classes. The FFV served as the model for the Future Farmers of America.

American Royal Livestock

1926

The American Royal Livestock Show invited vocational agriculture students to participate in national livestock judging contests in Kansas City, Mo.

G.W Owens

1927

G.W. Owens, teacher-trainer at Virginia State College, and Dr. H.O. Sargent, federal agent for agricultural education for African-Americans, U.S. Office of Education, wrote the first constitution and bylaws of the New Farmers of Virginia, an organization for African-American agriculture students.

Future Farmers of America

1928

*Future Farmers of America established in Kansas City, Mo.
*First National FFA Convention held in Kansas City: 33 delegates from 18 states in attendance.
*Leslie Applegate of New Jersey selected as the first national FFA president.
*First sectional gathering of New Farmers of America members held.

FFA Official Colors

1929

*National blue and corn gold adopted as official colors.
*Carlton Patton of Arkansas named first Star Farmer of America, one of the first awards created by FFA.
*At the Second National FFA Convention in November 1929, 33 states represented by 64 delegates.
*Thirty-five state associations with approximately 1,500 chapters and 30,000 members affiliated with the national organization.

The FFA Creed

1930

*Official FFA Creed, written by E.M. Tiffany, adopted.
*First National Public Speaking event held. Winner: Edward Drace, Missouri.
*First Official Dress uniform adopted: dark blue shirt, blue or white pants, blue cap and yellow tie.
*Delegates restricted membership to boys only.
First Official FFA Manual printed.

The Official Jacket

1933

*Blue corduroy jacket adopted as 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.

The New Farmer's of America

1935

*New Farmers of America founded in Tuskegee, Ala.
*Active FFA membership exceeded 100,000 members.

FFA Camp and Training School

1937

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

FFA Headquarters

1939

*28.5 acres of land purchased near Alexandria, Va., for the first FFA-owned national headquarters; the land was part of George Washington’s estate.
*Identical twins Albert and Arthur Lacy of Hondo, Texas, become the only members ever to share the title of Star Farmer of America.
*The “H.O. Sargent Trophy Award” was created to honor H.O. Sargent’s commitment to helping NFA members achieve success and leadership in agriculture.

Patriotic Farmers

1942

During World War II, when tens of thousands of FFA members served in the armed services, national FFA conventions were streamlined events where only delegates and award winners attend. In 1942, just 217 people attended the convention.

FFA Foundation

1944

Future Farmers of America Foundation formed to raise money from business, industry, government, individuals and sponsors for FFA programs and activities.
138,548 FFA members were serving in the Armed Services in World War II.
First National FFA Agriculture Proficiency Award presented for Agricultural Mechanics.

FFA Band

1947

First National FFA Band performed at national FFA convention.

FFA Supply Service

1948

*First FFA Chorus and National FFA Talent program held at national FFA convention.
*National FFA Supply Service began operation.
*Record jump in membership from 238,269 in 1947 to 260,300 in 1948; 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.
*First FFA Week celebrated during the week of George Washington’s birthday.

International Exchange Program for FFA

1949

First International Exchange Program for FFA members began with Young Farmers Club of Great Britain.

FFA Bill

1950

A bill was passed by the 81st Congress of the United States that granted FFA a federal charter and specified that a U.S. Department of Education staff member be the national FFA advisor. On Aug. 30, President Harry S. Truman signed the bill, and it became Public Law 81-740.

First FFA Magazine

1952

First issue of The National Future Farmer magazine published.

FFA Special Stamp

1952

*The U.S. Post Office Department issued a special stamp to celebrate the 25th anniversary of FFA.
*President Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president to speak at a national FFA convention.

President Harry S. Truman

1957

Former President Harry S. Truman spoke during the national convention.

Certificate of Appreciation

1958

The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis presented NFA with a Certificate of Appreciation.

In The Name of Alexandria

1959

First National FFA Center dedicated in Alexandria, Va., on land that had originally been used as the national FFA campionship.

NFA Merges the FFA

1965

New Farmers of America merged with the Future Farmers of America.

FFA Convention

1966

First FFA National Agricultural Career Show held at national FFA convention to highlight educational and career opportunities in agriculture.

Presidential Speech at Convention

1968

President Richard Nixon attended national FFA convention in Kansas City.

Accepting Girls

1969

*FFA opened 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, named.
*Washington Conference (now called the Washington Leadership Conference) began.
*Delegate body of the national FFA convention established alumni class of membership as part of the constitution.

Alumni Association

1971

The National FFA Alumni Association chartered as an affiliate of the National FFA Organization.

Official Dress Standard

1973

FFA Official Dress standards created.

First Black Man Elected to Office

1974

*Fred McClure from Texas was the first African-American elected to a national FFA office.
*President Gerald Ford was the guest speaker at national FFA convention; the speech was carried live on network television.

Food For America

1975

*Food For America program launched.
*Presidential candidate Jimmy Carter – a former FFA member – spoke at the national FFA convention.

Julie Smiley

1976

*Julie Smiley of Washington was the first female elected to a national office.
*Alaska became the last of the 50 states to obtain a national charter.

Jimmy Carter

1978

President Jimmy Carter addressed the 51st National FFA Convention.

First Extemporaneous Public Speaking Event

1979

First Extemporaneous Public Speaking Event held and won by Christe Peterson of Wisconsin.

Raising $1 million

1980

The National FFA Foundation raised $1 million in one year for the first time.

Jan Eberly

1982

Jan Eberly, from California, became the first female national FFA president.

George H.W. Bush

1987

Vice President George H. W. Bush spoke at national convention; Bush was elected president in 1988.

FFA changed to National FFA Organization

1988

*Future Farmers of America changed its name to the National FFA Organization to reflect the growing diversity in the industry of agriculture.
*Seventh and eighth grade students permitted to become FFA members.
*Agriscience Student Recognition Program introduced.

FFA New Horizons

1989

The National Future Farmer magazine changed its name to FFA New Horizons.

Partners in Active Learning Support program launched.

1990

Partners in Active Learning Support program launched.

Chapters Created in Virgin Islands and Guam

1991

Chapters in the Virgin Islands and Guam, along with five chapters in Micronesia, chartered.

Corey Flournoy

1994

Corey Flournoy, from Illinois, was the first African-American to be elected national FFA president; he was also the first urban student leader.

Website Debute

1996

*H.O. Sargent Award reinstated, promoting diversity among chapters.
*FFA announced its decision to move the National FFA Center from Alexandria, Va., to Indianapolis, Ind.
*FFA announced its decision to move the national FFA convention from Kansas City, Mo., to Louisville, Ky.
*The official website for FFA, www.FFA.org, debuted.

First Agri-Entrepreneurship Awards

1997

First Agri-Entrepreneurship Awards presented.

Technical Amendment Passed

1998

*National FFA Center in Indianapolis, Ind., dedicated July 20.
*Agricultural Education National Headquarters dedicated in Alexandria, Va.
*National convention held in Kansas City, Mo., for the last time.
*Jose Santiago elected to national office; he was the first member from Puerto Rico to serve as a national officer.
*The 105th Congress of the United States reviewed and passed technical amendments to Public Law 81-740 (Aug. 30, 1950). *Public Law 105-225 passed on Aug. 12.

First Technical Creed Speaking Class

1999

72nd National FFA Convention held in Louisville, Ky., for the first time.
First National Creed Speaking event held. Winner: Michael Van Winkle, Arkansas.

FFA Degree's

2000

*Delegates at the national FFA convention approved the Discovery *FFA Degree for middle school students.
*The National FFA Archives at Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis opened.

First National Star in Agriscience

2001

*First National Star in Agriscience named: Steven Offer, Wisconsin.
*First National Star in Agricultural Placement named: Nicholas Streff, South Dakota.

Official Dress standards revised

2002

*First female Star Farmer named: Karlene Lindow, Wisconsin.
*Official Dress standards revised.

Javier Moreno Elected President

2003

Javier Moreno, Puerto Rico, elected national president; he became the first person with a native language other than English and the first Puerto Rican elected as national FFA president.