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1917
The Smith-Hughes National Vocational Education Act, (both Senator Hoke Smith and Representative Dudley Hughes were from Georgia) establishes vocational agriculture courses. -
1925
Virginia Tech agricultural education teacher educators Henry C. Groseclose, Harry W. Sanders, Walter S. Newman and Edmund C. Magil organize Future Farmers of Virginia for boys in agricultural classes, The FFV serves as the model for the Future Farmers of America. -
1926
The First National Congress of Vocational Agriculture Students assembles for a National Livestock Judging Contest at the American Royal Livestock and Horse Show in Kansas City, Mo. -
1927
H.O Sargent, a federal agent for Agricultural education for African-American's at the U.S. Office of Education, and G.W. Owens, a teacher-trainer at Virginia State College, write the first constitution and bylaws for the New Farmers of Virginia, an organization for African-American agriculture students. The organization holds its first state rally that same year. -
1928
Leslie Applegate from New Jersey is elected first national FFA President. Future Farmers of America is established in Kansas City, Mo. -
1929
National blue and corn gold are adopted as official FFA colors. At the Second National FFA Convention in November, 33 states are represented by 64 delegates. -
1930
Official FFA Creed, written by E.M Tiffinay, is adopted. Delegates restrict FFA membership to boys only. -
1931
The National FFA Radio Program on NBC is launched, -
1932
A charter is granted to the Puerto Rico FFA Association. -
1933
Blue Corduroy jacket is adopted as Offical Dress -
1935
David Simmons of Alabama is elected as the first national NFA president. Active FFA membership exceeds 100,000 members. -
1944
The Future Farmers of America Foundation is formed in Washington D.C., to raise money for FFA programs and activities. 138,548 FFA members serve in the Armed Services in World War II. -
1942
During World War II, delegates revise FFA membership rules so time served in the armed forces will not count in determining a member's period of eligibility. -
1946
Attendance at the National FFA "Victory Convention" is 12,500. Those in attendance honor the 260,450 FFA members who served and the 7,188 who paid the supreme sacrifice, losing their lives in the war. -
1937
During the National FFA Convention, action is taken to establish a national FFA camp and leadership training school in Washington D.C. -
1947
The first National FFA Band performs at the National FFA Convention. National FFA Officers go on the first Goodwill Tour, visiting business and industrial firms and organizations. -
1948
Record jump in membership from 238,269 in 1947 to 260,300 in 1948. 10,000 members attend the 20th National FFA Convention that a folding-cot hotel is set up in the basement of the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City Mo. -
1949
The first International Exchange program for FFA members begins with Young Farmers Club of Great Britain. -
1950
The 81st U.S. Congress passes a bill that grants a federal charter to Future Farmers of America. President Harry S. Truman signs the bill on Aug. 30, and it becomes PUblic Law 81-740. -
1953
The FFA Code of Ethics is adopted. First issue of the National Future Farmer magazine is published. -
1953
The U.S. Post Office Department issues a special 3-cent postage stamp- the cost of mailing a first-class letter then- to celebrate the 25th anniversary of FFA. The first stamps are released in Kansas City, Mo., during the National FFA COnvention. -
1955
Photo of American star Farmer Joe Moore is on the cover of Time magazine. -
1957
Former President Harry S. Truman speaks during the National FFA Convention. -
1958
The National Foundation for infantile paralysis presents NFA with a Certificate of Appreciation. -
1959
FFA holds its first National Leadership Training Conference for state officers in Washington, D.C. -
1964
FFA sells its one-millionth FFA jacket. -
1965
NFA merges with FFA, increasing FFA membership by more than 50,000. -
1966
First FFA National Agricultural Career Show is held at the National FFA Convention to highlight educational and career opportunities in agriculture. -
1967
Elmer J. Johnson helps develop the National FFA Center. -
1968
President candidate Richard M. Nixon speaks at the National FFA convention. Nixon is elected U.S President the following month. -
1969
FFA opens membership to females, making it possible for them to hold office and participate in competitive events at regional and national levels. -
1970
New York's Anita Decker and New Jersey's Patricia Krowicki become the first two women delegates to the national convention. -
1971
The National FFA Alumni Association is established. -
1973
National FFA Secretary Fred McClure from Texas is the first African-American elected to a national FFA office. -
1974
President Gerald Ford speaks at the National FFA Convention. The speech is carried live on network television. -
1975
Food for America program launches. Jimmy Carter, former member Georgia governor and a former member of the plains FFA Convention, Carter was elected U.S president the following year. -
1976
Julie Smiley from Washington is elected national FFA vice president and is the first female to hold a national FFA office. -
1978
President Jimmy Carter speaks at the 51st National FFA Convention again, this time as a U.S. president. -
1979
Christe Peterson from Wisconson wins the first Extemporaneous Public Speaking event. -
1980
The National FFA Foundation raises $1 million in one year for the first time. -
1982
Jan Eberly from California becomes the first female national FFA president. -
1983
The Ag Ed Network, the organization's computerized information service, launches. -
1984
The first FFA TV public service announcements air. -
1986
The first Agriscience Teacher of the Year Award is presented to Steven McKay from Boonville Calif. -
1987
Vice President George H.W. Bush is elected U.S. president the following year. -
1988
The Future Farmers of America changes its name to the National FFA Organization to reflect the growing diversity in agriculture. -
1989
The National Future FArmer magazine changes its name to FFA New Horizons. -
1990
National convention delegates vote to raise the number of official voting delegates to 475 based on proportional representation. -
1991
FFA chapters in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam, along with five chapters on Micronesia, are chartered. -
1994
Corey Flournoy from Illinois is the first African-American to be elected national FFA president; he is also the first urban stufent leader. -
1996
The official website for FFA.org, debutes. -
1997
The first Agri-Entrepreneurship Award presented. -
1998
The FFA Convention is held in Kansas City Mo., for the last time. -
1999
The National FFA Convention is held in Louisville Ky., for the first time with 46,918 in attendance. -
2000
Delegates at the National FFA Convention approve the Discovery FFA Degree for middle school students. -
2001
Steven Offer from Wisconsin is named the first American star of Agriscience. -
2002
Karlene Lindow from Wisconsin is named American Star Farmer. Lindow is the first female to recieve this award -
2003
Javier Moreno from Puerto Rico is elected national president; he becomes the first with a native language other than English and the first Puerto Rican elected to this office. -
2004
The first live webcast of the National FFA Convention premieres on FFA.org. -
2005
The National FFA Foundation tops 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. -
2007
FFA membership exceeds the half-million mark with 500,823 members in 7,358 chapters. -
2008
The FFA member networking site, FFA nation launches. -
2009
FFA celebrates 40 years of women in the organization. -
2010
Six college-age FFA members travel to Zambia for the FFA global outreach; Africa program. -
2011
FFA celebrates Native Americans in FFA, agriculture, and agricultural education during the 84th National FFA Convention. -
2012
Patrick Gottsch donates $1 million on behalf of RFD-TV to the National FFA Organization, to the single-largest unrestricted donation in the organization's history. -
2014
FFA members earn a record 3,765 American FFA Degrees. Five FFA jackets are donated to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. -
2015
Membership in the National FFA Alumni Association reaches 62,705 alumni. -
2016
FFA Discovery, Education and AgCareers.com partner to create AgExplorer, a career website to help students explore unique careers in agriculture. -
2017
Convention delegates recommendations to alter Official Dress and the evening ceremony get approval from the national FFA Board of Directors. -
2018
Platinum sponsor John Deere commemorates 75 years of partnership with FFA. -
2019
FFA celebrates 50 years of female membership in the organization