FFA Then and Now

A look back at how the FFA became what it is today.

FFA History 1917 Congress passed Smith-Hughes Act

• established agriculture classes 1920’s Future Farmers of Virginia formed

• Henry Groseclose-”Father of the FFA” 1926 American Royal in Kansas City

invited vocational agriculture students to judge livestock

FFA History 1928 Walt Disney draws Mickey Mouse for

Kansas City Star 1928 1st National Convention in Kansas

City’s Baltimore Hotel

1st President - Leslie Applegate

1st Nat. Advisor - Dr. C.H. Lane

Dues set at $0.10 1929 Carton Patton 1st American Star

Farmer National Blue and Corn Gold official colors

FFA History

1930 FFA Creed Adopted

written by E.M. Tiffany

3rd national convention

revised in 1965, 1987, and 1990 1930 Montana FFA chartered 1933 FFA Jacket adopted as official dress

FFA History

1939 National FFA Center located on part of the original estate of George Washington in Alexandria, Virginia

1944 National FFA Foundation Formed

non-profit fundraising part of FFA

private donations fund awards

Foundation raises $6 million annually

FFA History

1947 National FFA Band 1948 National FFA Chorus 1948 National FFA Supply Service Formed

Official Jackets

Awards

Anything FFA

FFA History 1950 Public Law 740 granted National FFA

a Federal Charter

FFA recognized as “intracurricular” part of the agriculture education program

1952 National Future Farmer magazine published

now called FFA New Horizon 1952 Code of Ethics adopted 1952 Plentywood FFA chartered

1955 FFA in Japan, Brazil, Columbia, Korea, Mexico, Panama, Philippines, Thailand

1955 International Student exchange programs begun

can now travel to 30 countries 1965 NFA merged with FFA

NFA (New Farmers) African American

FFA History

FFA History

1969 Girls admitted to FFA 1969 First Star Agribusinessman 1971 National FFA Alumni founded

support agriculture education 1972 Montana FFA Alumni founded 1972 Plentywood FFA Alumni founded 1988 Name changed to National FFA

Organization

FFA History

1989 National Future Farmer changed to FFA New Horizons