1917
The Smith-Hughes National
Vocational Education Act establishes vocational
agriculture courses.
1925
Virginia Tech agricultural
education teacher educators Henry Groseclose,
Harry Sanders, Walter Newman, and Edmund Magill
organize the Future Farmers of Virginia for boys
in agriculture classes. Soon similar groups
are established across the country.
1926
New Farmers of America, an
organization for African-American boys interested
in agriculture, is formed in Virginia. NFA's
first national convention would be in 1935.
1926
The American Royal Livestock Show
invites vocational agriculture students to
participate in National Livestock Judging
Contests in Kansas City, Mo.
1928
During the National Livestock
Judging Contests, 33 students from 18 states
establish The Future Farmers of America to
provide leadership training for farm boys. During
this first annual convention, Leslie Applegate of
Freehold, N.J., is elected president and dues are
set at 10 cents annually. The national convention
was held in Kansas City 1928-1998.
1930
The official creed and
colors-national blue and corn gold-are adopted.
The creed has been amended three times but still
retains its original basic tenants.
1930
At the 3rd National FFA
Convention, the membership issue was clarified
when the all-member, male delegation amended the
constitution restricting membership to boys only
under Article III, Section B.
1933
Fredericktown, Ohio, FFA members
arrive at the national convention in crisp, blue
corduroy jackets with the FFA emblem on the back.
Official delegates vote to adopt the jacket as
the organization’s official dress. Members
still wear the nationally-recognized jackets
today, honoring the tradition and history of FFA.
More than 50,000 are manufactured each year.
1933
Members across the country
celebrate the first national FFA Day. In 1948
this would be changed to FFA Week and celebrated
during George Washington's birthday to recognize
his pioneering contributions to American
agriculture.
1934
All states except Rhode Island and
Alaska have chartered associations. Rhode Island
would charter an association in 1950 and Alaska
in 1976.
1944
The National FFA Foundation, Inc.,
was established in Washington, D.C., to raise
money for FFA programs and activities from
business, industry, government, individuals and
foundation sponsors. Today, the Foundation is
located in Indianapolis, In., and raises more
than $7.3 million annually.
1948
FFA members participate in the
organization's first international exchange
program with the Young Farmers Club of Great
Britain. By 1996 the FFA would send more than 350
students to more than 25 countries annually.
1950
The U.S. Congress passes Public
Law 81-740, which grants the FFA a Federal
Charter and stipulates that a U.S. Department of
Education staff member be the national FFA
advisor. Today FFA continues to be recognized by
Congress as an intra-curricular part of the
educational program.
1953
FFA celebrates its silver
anniversary. President Dwight D. Eisenhower is
the first president to address a national FFA
convention. Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter,
George Bush and Ronald Reagan would address the
FFA in the future. The U.S. Post Office issues a
special stamp to commemorate the founding of the
FFA.
1959
The FFA headquarters is
established in Alexandria, Va., on land which was
part of George Washington’s estate. The FFA
had owned the land since 1939 and used it for
national camps. During the dedication, members
participating in the first National Leadership
Conference for State Officers place a hand full
of soil from each state around the flagpole.
1965
The New Farmers of America (N FA),
the organization for African-American
agricultural education students, merges with the
FFA, adding 50,000 members.
1966
The FFA National Agricultural
Career Show, a trade show especially for
students, exposes national convention attendees
to educational and career opportunities in
agriculture. By 1999, 350 exhibitors participated
and occupied 400,000 square feet.
1969
Women are allowed national
membership, which made it possible for them to
hold office and participate in competitive events
at the regional and national level. Prior
to this amendment women were permitted membership
only at the local and state level. Today, 34% of
FFA membership is female, while more than 50% of
state leadership positions are held by women.
1969
The National FFA Foundation hires
its first full-time staff member in the Madison,
Wis. office, the Wisconsin Secretary of
Agriculture Donald McDowell.
1971
The National FFA Alumni
Association is founded, providing opportunities
for former FFA members and other supporters to
become involved with their local student
chapters. Today the Alumni Association has 42,000
members.
1974
Fred McClure of Texas is elected
western region vice president, becoming the
organization's first African-American national
officer. McClure would later serve on
President George Bush's staff in Washington, D.C.
1988
Delegates to the national FFA
convention change “Future Farmers of America”
to the “National FFA Organization” to
recognize the growth of agriculture and
agricultural education to encompass the more than
300 careers in the science, business and
technology of agriculture. Delegates also opened
FFA membership to middle school students.
1991
The Virgin Islands and Guam are
granted association charters and five chapters
from Micronesia are granted affiliate chapter
charters.
1994
Corey Flournoy of Chicago, Ill.,
is elected national FFA president, becoming the
organization’s first African-American
president and first urban student leader.
1996
FFA announces its move of the
national FFA convention from Kansas City, Mo., to
Louisville, Ky.
1996
The National FFA web site, National
FFA Online, goes live. Today, there are more
than 140,000 visitors per month.
1998
The national convention was held
in Kansas City for the last time in November
1998; the convention set an attendance record,
drawing 49,240 members, guests and supporters.
Additionally, the National FFA Center was moved
from Alexandria, Va., to Indianapolis, In. The
National FFA Center houses the National FFA
Organization, the National FFA Foundation and the
National FFA Alumni Association. Approximately
1,000 guests attended the dedication ceremonies
on July 20, 1998.And, much like the 1959
dedication, members participating in the State
Presidents’ Conference placed a cup full of
soil from their respective state at the base of
the flagpole.
1999
The national FFA convention is
held in Louisville, Ky., for the first time and
will stay in Louisville through 2005; attendance
was 46, 918.
2000
FFA continues to expand
opportunities for agricultural career preparation
by introducing one new career development event
and two demonstration events.
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