The FFA organization was established in 1928 and was originally called the Future Farmers of America. It was formed to provide federal funding and support for agricultural education programs in public high schools. Key events included the establishment of the FFA Creed in 1930, the design of the FFA jacket in 1933, the purchase of land for the National FFA Center in 1939, and a change of name to the National FFA Organization in 1988 to reflect the growing diversity of agricultural careers. The organization now has over 495,000 members across all 50 states and U.S. territories.

1. FFA History
Magee High School FFA Chapter

2. What is FFA?
…an organization of over 495,000 agricultural
education students from all 50 states plus Puerto
Rico & the Virgin Islands.

3. FFA History

4. FFA History

5. 1917 – Smith-Hughes Act
Named after a congressmen and a senator from
Georgia.
Provided federal funding for the establishment of
Vocational Agriculture in public high schools.

6. 1928 – Future Farmers of America
FFA was established.
The 1st
convention was
held in the Hotel
Baltimore in Kansas
City, Missouri.

7. 1928 – Continued
FFA was formed from the Future Farmers of Virginia.
Henry Groseclose of Virginia became known as the
“Father of FFA”.
Leslie Applegate of New Jersey became the 1st
National
President.

8. 1928 - Continued
Dr. C.H. Lane became
the 1st National
Advisor.
The National FFA
Convention was held in
Kansas City from 1928
to 1998.

9. 1929 – North Carolina FFA
North Carolina joins the
FFA!!!!!!!
Lillington High School in
Harnett County was the 1st
FFA chapter in North
Carolina.
Wade Turner from North
Carolina became the 2nd
National FFA President.

10. FFA History
1930
– FFA Creed is written
by E.M. Tiffany.
1933
– FFA jacket is designed
by Dr. Gus Lintner of
Ohio.

11. FFA History
1939
– FFA purchases 28.5 acres of land in Alexandria,
Virginia; which was part of George Washington’s estate
at Mt. Vernon.
1944
– National FFA Foundation formed.
– Raises money for FFA activities and scholarships.
1948
– National FFA Supply service formed.

12. FFA History
1950
– Public Law 740
» Gave the FFA a federal charter.
» Where there is a high school agriculture program,
there must be a FFA chapter.

13. FFA History – Public Law 740
Created 3 integral components to an agricultural
education program.
– Classroom/Lab Instruction
– FFA
– SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience
programs)

14. FFA History
1952
– National FFA Future
Farmer started
production.
– FFA Code of Ethics
was created.

15. FFA History
1953
– U.S. Postal Service issues a commemorative
stamp for the FFA’s Silver (25th
) Anniversary.

16. FFA History
1958
– First National FFA
Center in Alexandria,
Virginia is dedicated.
1965
– FFA and the NFA
merge.

17. New Farmers of America
Organization for African-
American males in high
school agriculture classes.
Formed in Virginia…
– like the FFA.
Merged with the FFA at
the end racial segregation
of schools.

18. New Farmers of America
Dr. H.O. Sargent was
a co-founder of the
NFA.
Today the FFA gives
an award in his
memory to honor
those that promote
diversity in
agriculture.

19. FFA History
1969
– Girls are admitted into
the FFA.
1971
– National FFA Alumni
Association was
founded.

20. FFA History
1988
– Future Farmers of
America changes its
name to the National
FFA Organization.
1989
– National Future Farmer
Magazine changes its
name to FFA New
Horizons.

21. FFA History
1998
– The National FFA Center moves to
Indianapolis, Indiana.

22. FFA History
1999
– National FFA
Convention moves to
Louisville, Kentucky.
– This is the 1st time the
convention is held
outside Kansas City,
Missouri.

23. FFA History
2006
– National Convention
moved to Indianapolis,
Indiana.
– National Convention
and the National FFA
Center are located in
the same city.

24. FFA Creed
All students will be required to learn the FFA
Creed.