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Key Moments in FFA History
Additional Historical Information
Virginia FFA
Association History Site.
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 (NFA), 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. |
