Historical Timeline of FFA

The Smith-Hughes National Vocational Education Act- established vocational agriculture courses. (were Georgia Congressmen)

Virginia Tech Agricultural Educational teachers educators Henry Groseclose, Harry Sanders, Walter S. Newman and Edmund C. Magill - organized the Future Farmers of Virginia for boys in agriculture classes. FFV is a model for the FFA

Future Farmers of America is established in Kansas City, Mo.

First National FFA Convention held in Kansas City: 33 Delegates from 18 states in attendance, dues were set at 10 cents

First sectional gathering of New Farmers of American members held

National Blue and Corn Gold adopted as official colors

Carlton Patton of Arkansas names first Star Farmer of America

Official FFA Creed adopted

First National Public Speaking event held. - Winner Edward Drace, Missouri

First Official Dress uniform was adopted: Dark blue shirt, Blue or white pants, blue cap and yellow tie.

Delegates restrict membership to boys only

Blue corduroy jacket adopted as Official Dress

A group of FFA officers and members made a pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., where they were greeted on the White House lawn by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

New Farmers of America found in Tuskegee, Ala.

Active FFA membership exceeded 100,000 members

During national convention, actin was take to establish a national FFA camp and training school in Washington, D.C.

28.5 Acres of land was purchased for the first FFA- owned national headquarters; was part of George Washington's estate

Identical twins, Albert and Arthur Lacy of Hondo, TX become the only members ever to share the title of Star Farmer of America

The "H.O. Sargent Trophy Award" is created to honor H.O. Sargent commitment to helping NFA members achieve success and leadership in agriculture.

Future Farmers of America Foundation Formed

138,548 FFA members were serving in the Armed services in World War II

First National FFA Agriculture Proficiency Award present for Agriculture Machanics

First National FFA band performed at national FFA convention

First FFA Chorus and National FFA Talent program held at national FFA convention

National FFA Supply service began operation

First International Exchange program for FFA members bean with Young Farmers Club of Great Britain

Record jump in membership from 238,269 in 1947 to 260,300 in 1948, so many members attended the 20th National FFA Convention that a folding-cot hotel was set up in the basement of the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City

First FFA Week celebrated during the week of George Washington's birthday.

President Harry S. Truman granted a Federal Charter, Public Law 740, to FFA

First issue of The National Future Farmer Magazine was published

The U.S. Post Office Department issued a special stamp to celebrate the 25th anniversary of FFA

President Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president to speak at a national FFA convention

Former President Harry S. Truman spoke during the national convention

The National Foundation for infantile Paralysis present NFA with a certificate of appreciation.

First National FFA Center dedicated in Alexandria, VA.

New Farmers of America merges with the Future Farmers of America

First FFA National Agriculture Career Show held at National FFA Convention

President Richard Nixon attends national FFA Convention

FFA opens membership to girls

First National Star in Agribusinesss - Ken Dunagan from Arizona

Washington Conference (WLC) begins

Delegate body of the national FFA convention established alumni class of membership as part of the constitution

FFA Official Dress Standards created

Fred McClure from TX was the first African American elected to a national office

President Gerald Ford is the guest speaker at the national FFA convention; the speech is carried lived to network television

Food for America program launched

Julie Smiley of Washington is the first female elected to a national office

Alaska become the last of the 50 states to obtain a national charter

President Jimmy Carter Addressed the 51st National FFA Convention

First Extemporaneous Public Speaking Event held- won by Christe Paterson of Wisconsin

National FFA Foundation raises $1 million in one year for the first time

Jan Eberly, California becomes the first female national FFA president

George H.W. Bush spoke at national convention as VP to Ronald Reagan, Bush become president in 1988

Future Farmers of America changes its name to National FFA organization to reflect the growing diversity in the industry of agriculture.

Seventh and Eighth grade students permitted to become FFA members

Agriscience student recognition Program introduced

The National Future Farmer magazine changes its name to FFA New Horizons

Partners in Active Learning Support (PALS) program is launched

Chapters in the Virgin Islands and Guam, along with five chapter in Micronesia, are chartered

Corey Flournoy, Illinois - first African American to be elected national FFA president; he is also the first urban student leader

H.O. Sargent Award reinstated, promoting diversity among chapters

FFA announces its decision to move the National FFA Center from Alexandria, VA to Indianapolis, Ind.

FFA announces its decision to move the national FFA convention from Kansas City, MO to Louisville, KY

The official website for FFA, www.FFA.org debuts

First Agri-Entrepreneurship Award Presented

National FFA Center in Indianapolis, Ind. is dedicated July 20

Agricultural Education National Headquarters dedicated in Alexandria, VA

National Convention held in Kansas City, MO for the last time.

Jose Santiago elected to national office- first member from Puerto Rico to serve as a national officer.

Public Law 81-740 revised through Congress and replace by Public Law 105-225 on August 12th

72nd National FFA Convention held in Louisville, KY

First National Creed Speaking event- Michael Van Winkle of Arkansas wins

Delegates at the National FFA Convention approve the Discovery FFA Degree for middle school students

First National Star in Agri-science named- Steven offer, Wisconsin

First National Star in Agricultural Placement named- Nicholas Streff from South Dakota

First Female Star Farmer named- Karlene Lindow from Wisconsin

Official Dress standards revised

Javier Moreno, Puerto Rico, elected national President- becomes the first person with a native language other than English and the First Puerto Rican elected as National FFA President

First live webcast of national FFA convention premieres on www.FFA.org

National FFA launched Seeds of Hope, a fundraising campaign to rebuild Gulf Coast states' agricultural education and FFA Programs following Hurricane Katrina; $835,699 in donations distributed to affected programs

FFA Foundation breaks the $10 million mark in raising money for FFA programs and services

National FFA Foundation receives first $1 million contribution from the Ford Motor Company

79th National FFA Convention held in Indianapolis, Ind. for the first time with 54,489 in attendance.

Endorsement of agricultural education's long-range goal of 10,000 quality agricultural education programs by 2015, where every student is a member of the FFA and has a relevant SAE

FFA Merchandise Center opens its doors.

Membership break the half-million mark with 500,823 members in 7,358 chapters

FFA New Horizons add online feature. www.FFAnewhorizons.org

FFA member networking site, FFA Nation, launches at www.FFAnation.ffa.org

Board makes decision to rotate the National FFA Convention between Louisville and Indianapolis, beginning with Louisville in 2013

FFA celebrated 40 years of women in he organization

Dr. Larry Case retired after 26 years as national FFA advisor

FFA celebrates the 75th anniversary of the founding of New Farmers of America

Six college-age FFA members travel to Zambia for the FFA Global Outreach Africa program

FFA members earn a record 3,449 American FFA Degrees

The National FFA Alumni Association celebrates its 40th anniversary.

FFA celebrates Native Americans in FFA, agriculture and agricultural education during the 84th National FFA Convention

Stever A. Brown Named national Advisor

The Agricultural Center Network is launched

Membership hits all-time high with 557,318 members in 7,498 chapters

The national FFA Foundation receives a record of more than $16.2 million in support of FFA

The 85th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis has a record attendance of 56,167 members, teachers, supporters and guests

FFA members and supporters pack 1,005,048 meals during the convention and expo's FFA Rally to Fight Hunger.

FFA celebrates Latinos/Hispanics in FFA, agricultural education during the convention and expo.