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Smith‐Hughes Vocational Education Act
The passage of the Smith‐Hughes Vocational Education Act in 1917 not only provided federal funds to states
for high school courses in vocational education (agriculture, family and consumer sciences, and trades and
industries) – but it also led to the idea for an organization that is known today as the National FFA
Organization -
Future Farmers of America formed
In 1928, a group of vocational agriculture students were in Kansas City, Mo., for the third annual National
Congress of Vocational Agriculture Students, which was held during the American Royal Livestock and Horse
Show. On Nov. 20, 33 of those students from 18 states met at the Baltimore Hotel in Kansas City and formed
the Future Farmers of America. -
New Farmers of America established
By 1935, FFA membership had topped 100,000 with more than 3,900 chapters in 47 states, Hawaii and Puerto
Rico. That same year, the New Farmers of America was established to provide leadership opportunities to
African‐American students enrolled in vocational education classes. -
National FFA Headquarters established
Land was purchased in Alexandria, Va., for the National FFA Headquarters in 1939 -
FFA Foundation created
In 1944, the National
FFA Foundation was created to raise funds from business and industry to help support the many new
programs being developed for the growing FFA membership. -
Public Law 740 passed
In 1950, Public Law 740 was passed by the U.S.
Congress, granting FFA a federal charter and requiring that a U.S. Department of Education staff member be
the national FFA advisor. -
FFA Merged with New Farmers of America
FFA membership took a leap in 1965 when 58,000 members of the New Farmers of America merged with the Future Farmers of America. -
Women Allowed to Join FFA
Delegates at the 1969 National FFA Convention voted to allow women to be members of FFA. -
Alaska Joins
In 1976, Alaska became the 50th state to obtain a state charter. -
Name Change
In 1988, the delegates at the 61st National FFA Convention voted to change the organization’s official name
from Future Farmers of America to the National FFA Organization. -
Goodbye Kansas City
after 70 years in the same city, the national FFA convention was held for the last time in Kansas
City, Mo., in 1998. -
Headquarters Moves to Indy
The National FFA
Center was moved from Alexandria, Va., to Indianapolis, Ind., where a new building was dedicated on July 20,
1998. -
Hello Louisville
The 72nd National FFA Convention in 1999 moved to Louisville, Ky., where it remained for seven years. -
Seeds of Hope
Over the years, FFA has shown the value it places on service to country and community. This was never more
evident than in 2005. Following Hurricane Katrina, the National FFA Organization raised more than $835,000
through their Seeds of Hope campaign to help FFA members, chapters and agricultural education facilities
affected by the hurricane. -
Moves to Indy
In 2006, the national FFA convention moved to Indianapolis. -
Period: to
Return to Louisville
From 2013 ‐ 2016, the convention and
expo will take place once again in Louisville and then return to Indianapolis in 2017.