GREENWICH, N.Y. — The National FFA Organization is a youth organization that promotes leadership development and personal growth through agricultural education. This organization has had a major influence on millions of students during its 95-year existence. In honor of National FFA Week happening February 18^th-25^th, let’s take a look back at some of the history of the FFA.

The roots of FFA begin in the early 20^th century when there was a push for agricultural education. Most formal education at the time was predominantly book learning, classical-style education. While beneficial in some aspects, many felt this kind of education did not provide practical use for students at the time as ¾ of people lived and worked in rural areas. To address the agricultural challenges of the time Congress passed the Smith-Hughes Act in 1917. The act provided federal funding for the teaching of agriculture, home economics, and trades in public schools. The act helped create a clear career and technical education for students and had the effect of more students staying in school longer.¹

In 1925 the Future Farmers of Virginia was formed on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, known today as Virginia Tech. The group was formed by agriculture educators Henry Groseclose, Harry Sanders, Walter S. Newman and Edmund C. Magill. The group was formed for high school boys enrolled in vocational agriculture. The group’s set up of a statewide organization with local chapters would serve as the inspiration for the FFA. Other states soon began similar organizations.²

The Future Farmers of America was officially formed in 1928 while at the National Livestock Judging Contests in Kansas City, Missouri with the goal of providing leadership training for farm boys. This meeting was considered the first FFA National Convention which featured 33 delegates from 18 states. Leslie Applegate from New Jersey was elected to be the first national FFA president and organization dues were established at 10 cents per year.³

Many of the recognizable facets of the FFA were established during the early years of the organization. In 1929 the FFA adopted blue and corn gold to be the official colors. The first Star Farmer award celebrating the top production agriculture student was awarded that year to Carlton Patton from Arkansas. Another popular event the National Public Speaking event was held for the first time in 1930.⁴ The FFA Creed was also adopted in 1930. Written by E.M. Tiffany, the FFA Creed poetically expounds some of the values and beliefs of FFA such as leadership, service, honest & hard work, citizenship, and belief in the future of agriculture.⁵

The iconic blue corduroy jacket became the official uniform a few years later in 1933. The jackets were first worn Fredericktown Ohio FFA chapter. The chapter advisor Gus Linter saw the blue jacket in the window of a local hardware store. Taking a liking to them Mr. Linter contacted the maker and ordered some with the chapter’s name stitched to the back for his students. Later in the year the Fredericktown FFA members wore their jackets to the National Convention. The jackets were very well received and were so popular that the convention’s delegates made them the official FFA uniform.⁶

In 1935 the New Farmers of America (NFA) was established for African-American agriculture students. Sponsored by the U.S. Office of Education the group was practically identical to the FFA offering similar programs and activities. By this time the FFA had grown to exceed 100,000 members.⁷

In the 1940s the FFA scaled back a bit working under World War II-era restrictions and found ways to support the war effort. But the group continued to grow across the country having around 250,000 members by 1948. The growth was seen at the 1948 National Convention when a “folding cot hotel” needed to be set up to accommodate the great number of attendees.⁸ In 1950 the FFA received a federal charter giving the group national recognition. A member of the U.S. Department of Education is now required to be a National FFA advisor.⁹

The 1960s and 1970s brought some changes to the make-up of the FFA. Following the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1965 the NFA and FFA joined making the FFA integrated for the first time. A few years later in 1969 girls were allowed to join FFA for the first time. Prior to this national and statewide FFA events were restricted to boys only, although girls sometimes participated at the chapter level. The impact of these changes would be seen in future years through figures like Fred McClure, the first African American elected to a national FFA office in 1973, Corey Flournoy, the first African American National FFA president in 1994, Julie Smiley, the first female elected to a national FFA office in 1976, and Jan Eberly, the first female National FFA president in 1982.¹⁰

In the late 1980s the FFA officially changed its name from the Future Farmers of America to National FFA Organization. This change was enacted to encompass the diverse areas of study involved in agriculture and agriculture education such as science, business, and technology. By this time not all FFA members came from farms or were planning to become farmers, but were involved in many of the other fields connected to agriculture.¹¹

Another big change that happened was the moving of the National Convention from Kansas City, Mo. to Louisville, Kentucky in 1999. The National Convention had been held in Kansas City every year from 1928-1998. After a few years in Louisville the location of the National Convention moved to Indianapolis where it remains held today.¹²

Throughout the FFA’s history thousands of students have taken part in the competitions and honors the group offers. The Star Awards recognize the top farming, agribusiness, agricultural placement, and agriscience. Agricultural Proficiency recognize the skills students learn through ag experiences, and Career & Leadership Development Events sharpen students’ teamwork and leadership skills and knowledge on various topics through competitions. These and other activities have grown and changed throughout the years to keep up with a changing organization and work landscape.

FFA members have gone on to become politicians, researchers, government officials, educators, farmers, and so many other professions. Some recognizable figures who were in FFA include President Jimmy Carter, singers Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift, two-sport athlete Bo Jackson, and current Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Most FFA members may not be celebrities like those just mentioned, but they are leaders on their farms, workplaces, and local communities.

Today there are over 850,000 FFA members in 8,995 chapters. FFA chapters are found in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA continues to make an impact on today’s students providing hands-on learning, leadership training, and impactful experiences as it encourages tomorrow’s leaders to live by the group’s motto of “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.”