FFA History

Smith-Hughes

1917

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

Virginia Tech

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.

First National Congress Of Vocational Agriculture

1926

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

New Farmer of Virginia

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.

First National FFA Convetion

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 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.

Official 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.

FFA Association

1932

Charter granted to Puerto Rico FFA association.

FFA 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.

New Farmers of America

1935

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

FFA camp

1937

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

FFA members join war

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.

Foundation Formed in Washington

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.

Victory Convention

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.

Goodwill tour

1947

First National FFA Band performed at national FFA convention.
National FFA officers went to the first Goodwill tour, visiting business and industrial firms and organizations

National FFA Supply Service Began

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.

First International Exchange Program

1949

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

First FFA Owned National Head Quarters

1949

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.

Congress Passed 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.

FFA code of ethics

1952

First issue of The National Future Farmer magazine published.
FFA code of ethics adopted

25th Anniversary of FFA

1953

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.

Time magazine

1955

Photo of American Star Farmer Joe Moore was on the cover of Time magazine

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.

First National Leadership Training Conference

1959

First National FFA Center dedicated in Alexandria, Va., on land that had originally been used as the national FFA camp.
Firsst national leadership traininf held

NFA Merged With FFA

1965

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

First FFA National Agricultural Career

1966

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

Elmer J. Johnson

1967

He helped develop FFA archives at the National FFA center

Richard M. Nixon

1968

President Richard Nixon attended national FFA convention in Kansas City.

FFA For 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 constitutio

BOAC

1971

The National FFA Alumni Association chartered as an affiliate of the National FFA Organization. Building our American communities.

FFA Alumni

1972

National FFA alumni association founded.

Dress Standard

1973

FFA Official Dress standards created.

First African-American

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.

First Female Vice President

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.

Christe Peterson

1979

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

$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.

Ad Ed Network

1983

Ad Ed Network, the FFA computerized information service, was launched

First FFA TV public

1984

First FFA TV public service announcement broadcast

First Agriscience

1986

First Agriscience teacher of the year award presented to Steven McKay from Boonvile, Cali

Vice president George H. W. Bush

1987

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

Changed it's name

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.

PALS

1990

Partners in Active Learning Support program launched.
Delegates vote "No" to new FFA creed during the 63rd National FFA Convention.

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.

First H.O. Sargent Awards

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.

Internship Awards

1997

First Agri-Entrepreneurship Awards presented.

FFA center in Indianapolis

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.

Michael Van Winkle

1999

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

Delegates at the national FFA convention approved

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.

Steven Offer

2001

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

75th National FFA convention

2002

First female Star Farmer named: Karlene Lindow, Wisconsin.
Official Dress standards revised.
75th National FFA convention held in louisville.

Javier Moreno

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.

First Live Wedcast

2004

First live webcast of national FFA convention premiered on www.FFA.org.

Seed of Hope

2005

National FFA launched Seeds of Hope, a fundraising campaign to rebuild Gulf Coast states’ agricultural education and FFA programs following Hurricane Katrina; $835,699 in donations distributed to affected programs.
The National FFA Foundation broke the $10 million mark in raising money for FFA programs and services.

79th National FFA Convention

2006

National FFA Foundation receives first $1 million contribution from the Ford Motor Company.
79th National FFA Convention held in Indianapolis, Ind., for the first time, with 54,489 in attendance.
Endorsement of agricultural education’s long-range goal of 10,000 quality agricultural education programs by 2015, where every student is a member of FFA and has a relevant SAE.

Merchandise

2007

The National FFA Merchandise Center opened its doors in Indianapolis, Ind.
Membership broke the half-million mark with 500,823 members in 7,358 chapters.
FFA New Horizons added online feature, www.FFAnewhorizons.org.

Networking Site

2008

FFA member networking site FFA Nation launched.
Board made the decision to rotate the national convention between Louisville and Indianapolis, beginning with Louisville in 2013.

40 years of women

2009

FFA celebrated 40 years of women in the organization.

Dr. Larry

2010

Dr. Larry Case retired after 26 years as national FFA advisor.
FFA celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of New Farmers of America during the 83rd National FFA Convention.
Six college-age FFA members traveled to Zambia for the FFA Global Outreach: Africa program.
FFA members earned a record 3,449 American FFA Degrees.

Alumni Association

2011

The National FFA Alumni Association celebrated its 40th anniversary.
FFA celebrated Native Americans in FFA, agriculture and agricultural education during the 84th National FFA Convention.
Steve A. Brown named national advisor.
The Agricultural Career Network launched.

FFA celebrates Latinos/Hispanics

2012

The National FFA Foundation received a record of more than $16.2 million in support of FFA.
FFA members and supporters packed 1,005,048 meals during the convention and expo’s FFA Rally to Fight Hunger.
FFA celebrates Latinos/Hispanics in FFA, agriculture and agricultural education during the convention and expo.

Membership hits all-time high

2013

Membership hits all-time high with 579,678 members in 7,570 chapters.
The 86th National FFA Convention & Expo in Louisville has a record attendance of 62,998 members, teachers, supporters and guests.
FFA members earn a record 3,578 American FFA Degrees.
Ram Truck's "So God Made a Farmer" Super Bowl commercial exceeds 18 million views on YouTube; company donates $1 million to FFA
Sherene Donaldson named first female national FFA executive secretary.

A record 65,173 FFA members

2015

A record 65,173 FFA members, advisors and guests attend the 88th National FFA Convention & Expo in Louisville, Kentucky.

Expo returns to Indianapolis.

2016

Membership hits all-time high with 649,355 members in 7,859 chapters.
National FFA Convention & Expo returns to Indianapolis.