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. The Future Farmers of Virginia would later serve as the model for the Future Farmers of America.
1926: New Farmers of America, an organization for African-American boys interested in agriculture, is formed in Virginia. It, like the FFA, was sponsored by the United States Office of Education and paralleled the FFA's programs and activities to the point that they offered many of the same programs under different names.
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 is elected president and dues are set at 10 cents annually. The National Convention was held in Kansas City 1928-1998.
1930: At the 3rd National Convention, the issue of membership was clarified when the constitution was amended restricting membership to boys only under Article III, Section B. Girls were restricted to activities at the state and local levels in the years following this decision.
1933: Fredericktown, Ohio, FFA members arrive at the National Convention in 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 the FFA.
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, Indiana, 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. This exchange launched a major international program that included internships for students and the establishment of future farmer organizations worldwide. 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 the FFA continues to be recognized by Congress as an intra-curricular part of the educational program.
1959: The FFA headquarters is established in Alexandria, Virginia, on land which was part of George Washington's estate. The FFA had owned the land since 1939 and used it as a national camp.
1965: The New Farmers of America, the organization for African-American agricultural 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 participate annually in the event.
1969: Women are allowed national membership making 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.
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. In 2000, the Alumni Association had 42,000 members.
1974: Fred McClure 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.
1982: Jan Eberly becomes the first female National FFA President.
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.
1994 : Corey Flournoy of Chicago, Illinois, is elected National FFA President, becoming the organization's first African-American president and first urban student leader.
1996: The National FFA web site,National FFA Online, goes live. In 1999, there were more than 140,000 visitors per month.
1998: The National FFA Convention was held in Kansas City, Missouri, for the last time in November 1998; the convention set an attendance record, drawing 49,240 members, guests, and supporters.
1999: The National FFA Convention is held in Louisville, Kentucky, 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, Agricultural Communications, and two demonstration events, Agronomy and Job Interview.
2006: The National FFA Convention is held for the first time in Indianapolis, Indiana; attendance was 54,489.
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. The Future Farmers of Virginia would later serve as the model for the Future Farmers of America.
1926: New Farmers of America, an organization for African-American boys interested in agriculture, is formed in Virginia. It, like the FFA, was sponsored by the United States Office of Education and paralleled the FFA's programs and activities to the point that they offered many of the same programs under different names.
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 is elected president and dues are set at 10 cents annually. The National Convention was held in Kansas City 1928-1998.
1930: At the 3rd National Convention, the issue of membership was clarified when the constitution was amended restricting membership to boys only under Article III, Section B. Girls were restricted to activities at the state and local levels in the years following this decision.
1933: Fredericktown, Ohio, FFA members arrive at the National Convention in 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 the FFA.
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, Indiana, 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. This exchange launched a major international program that included internships for students and the establishment of future farmer organizations worldwide. 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 the FFA continues to be recognized by Congress as an intra-curricular part of the educational program.
1959: The FFA headquarters is established in Alexandria, Virginia, on land which was part of George Washington's estate. The FFA had owned the land since 1939 and used it as a national camp.
1965: The New Farmers of America, the organization for African-American agricultural 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 participate annually in the event.
1969: Women are allowed national membership making 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.
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. In 2000, the Alumni Association had 42,000 members.
1974: Fred McClure 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.
1982: Jan Eberly becomes the first female National FFA President.
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.
1994 : Corey Flournoy of Chicago, Illinois, is elected National FFA President, becoming the organization's first African-American president and first urban student leader.
1996: The National FFA web site,National FFA Online, goes live. In 1999, there were more than 140,000 visitors per month.
1998: The National FFA Convention was held in Kansas City, Missouri, for the last time in November 1998; the convention set an attendance record, drawing 49,240 members, guests, and supporters.
1999: The National FFA Convention is held in Louisville, Kentucky, 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, Agricultural Communications, and two demonstration events, Agronomy and Job Interview.
2006: The National FFA Convention is held for the first time in Indianapolis, Indiana; attendance was 54,489.