FFA History

Virginia Tech agricultural education teacher educators Henry C. Groseclose, Harry W. Sanders, Walter S. Newman and Edmund C. Magill organize the Future Farmers of Virginia (FFV) for boys in agriculture classes. The FFV serves as the model for the Future Farmers of America.

H.O. Sargent, a federal agent for agricultural education for African Americans 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.

• National blue and corn gold are adopted as official FFA colors.
• Carlton Patton from Arkansas is named the first Star Farmer of America. This is one of the first awards created by FFA, and it was sponsored until 1949 by the Kansas City Star.
• First National Chapter Contest is launched and sponsored by Farm Journal magazine.
• At the Second National FFA Convention in November, 33 states are represented by 64 delegates.
• Thirty-five state associations with approximately 1,500 chapters and 30,000 members are affiliated with the national organization.

• Blue corduroy jacket is adopted as Official Dress.
• A group of FFA officers and members make a pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., where they are greeted on the White House lawn by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

During the National FFA Convention, action is taken to establish a national FFA camp and leadership training school in Washington, D.C.

• FFA members join in the war effort. Three former FFA members—Robert Gray from Texas, Travis Hoover from California and Melvin Jordan from Oklahoma—serve with then Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle and participate in the famous air raid on Tokyo.
• 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.
• During the war years, national conventions are streamlined events, attended only by delegates and award winners. In 1942, just 217 people attend the convention.

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.

• The first FFA Chorus and National FFA Talent program is held at the National FFA Convention.
• National FFA Supply Service begins operation.
• Record jump in membership from 238,269 in 1947 to 260,300 in 1948. So many members (10,000) 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.
• First FFA Week is celebrated during the week of George Washington’s birthday.

• 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.
• The Rhode Island FFA Association, with five chapters and 82 members, is chartered—FFA is in all 48 states, plus then Territory of Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

• 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.
• President Dwight D. Eisenhower speaks at the National FFA Convention — the first U.S. president to do so — and receives an Honorary American Farmer Degree.
• FFA membership reaches 363,369 members.

Former President Harry S. Truman spoke during the national convention.

• First National FFA Center is dedicated in Alexandria, Va., on land that was once part of George Washington’s estate. An FFA camp had been located here earlier.
• FFA holds its first National Leadership Training Conference for state officers in Washington, D.C.

Due to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which mandated the end of segregation, NFA merges with FFA, resulting in the end of NFA after 30 years of providing agricultural leadership development for rural Black male youth.

Elmer J. Johnson helps develop the FFA archives at the National FFA Center.

• FFA opens membership to females, making it possible for them to hold office and participate in competitive events at regional and national levels.
• Ken Dunagan from Arizona is named the first American Star in Agribusiness.
• The Washington Conference (now Washington Leadership Conference — WLC) begins.
• The delegate body of the National FFA Convention establishes alumni class of membership as part of the constitution.

• The National FFA Alumni Association is established.
• The Building Our American Communities (BOAC) program begins.

President Gerald Ford speaks at the National FFA Convention. The speech is carried live on network television.

• Julie Smiley from Washington is elected national FFA vice president and is the first female to hold a national FFA office.
• Alaska becomes the last of the 50 states to obtain a national charter.

Christe Peterson from Wisconsin wins the first Extemporaneous Public Speaking Event.

Melanie Burgess became a national FFA vice president in 1981.

The first Agriscience Teacher of the Year Award is presented to Steven McKay from Boonville, Calif.

• The Future Farmers of America changes its name to the National FFA Organization to reflect the growing diversity in agriculture.
• Seventh and eighth grade students are permitted to become FFA members.
• The Agriscience Student Recognition Program is introduced.
• President Ronald Reagan speaks at the National FFA Convention via a prerecorded message.
• Evadale, Texas, member Chrystal McDaniel poses with the 3 millionth FFA jacket.

• The Partners in Active Learning Support (PALS) program launches.
• National convention delegates vote to raise the number of official voting delegates to 475 based on proportional representation.
• Delegates vote “no” to a new FFA Creed during the 63rd National FFA Convention.

Corey Flournoy from Illinois is the first African American to be elected national FFA president; he is also the first national president from an urban environment.

• The National FFA Center in Indianapolis is dedicated on July 20.
• The Agricultural Education National Headquarters is dedicated in Alexandria, Va.
• The National FFA Convention is held in Kansas City, Mo., for the last time.
• Jose Santiago from Puerto Rico is elected national FFA vice president. He is the first member from Puerto Rico to serve as a national FFA officer.
• Public Law 81-740 is revised through the 105th Congress and replaced by Public Law 105-225 on Aug. 12.

• The 75th National FFA Convention is held in Louisville, Ky. To celebrate this special event, the time capsule from the 50th National FFA Convention is opened. Special guest Muhammad Ali is recognized at Reflections to honor the growing diversity of the National FFA Organization.
• Karlene Lindow from Wisconsin is named American Star Farmer. Lindow is the first female to receive this award.
• Official Dress standards are revised.

• Dr. Larry Case retires after 26 years as national FFA advisor.
• FFA celebrates the 75th anniversary of the founding of NFA.
• Six college-age FFA members travel to Zambia for the FFA Global Outreach: Africa program.

• FFA members and supporters pack 1,005,048 meals during the national convention and expo’s FFA Rally to Fight Hunger.
• FFA celebrates Latinos/Hispanics in FFA, agriculture and agricultural education during the national convention and expo.

• Five FFA jackets are donated to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
• The Give the Gift of Blue Program begins.

• National FFA Alumni membership jumps to 225,891 members, up from 62,705 in 2015.
• FFA, Discovery Education and AgCareers.com partner to create AgExplorer, a career website to help students explore unique careers in agriculture.

• The board of directors votes to rename the National FFA Alumni Association to National FFA Alumni and Supporters and change its bylaws to operational policies. The National FFA Alumni Council becomes the National FFA Alumni and Supporters Advisory Committee.
• Platinum sponsor John Deere commemorates 75 years of partnership with FFA.
• FFA announces that the National FFA Convention & Expo will stay in Indianapolis through 2031.
• The 91st National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis has a record attendance of 69,944 members, advisors, supporters and guests.
• The inaugural FFA Blue Room launches at the national convention and expo, showcasing cutting-edge technology, research and innovation in agriculture.
• President Donald Trump speaks at the national convention and expo.

• Student membership hits an all-time high with 760,113 members in 8,739 chapters.
• The National FFA Convention & Expo is held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Forever Blue Network is launched.
• For the first time in 50 years, the Washington Leadership Conference is canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.