The Future Farmers of America organization was founded in 1928, it was first started to bring together agriculture students, teachers, as well as farmers. The organization was founded in hopes of gaining agriculture education support. In 1988 the organization changed its name to the National FFA Organization instead of the Future Farmers of America. This was in order to reflect the ever changing and diversity of careers and fields of study in agriculture outside of farming and ranching.
80 years later FFA still focuses on the student and providing the resources to allow them to accomplish agriculture success. FFA has made great gains in 80 years and has added many new views of agriculture, besides just the "traditional" thinking.
*1928- 33 students from 18 states establish the FFA, at the American Royal National Livestock Juding Contest in Kansas City, MO. The first convention was held in the Baltimore Hotel in Kansas City, MO, and Leslie Applegate was elected first National FFA president. Dues were 10 cents!
*1929- National blue and corn gold are adopted as the FFA's official colors.
*1930- The FFA Creed is adopted. (Written by E.M. Tiffany)
*1933- The FFA jackets become the official dress of the National FFA organization.
*1935- NFA (New Farmers of America) founded for African-American boys.
*1944- National FFA Foundation established.
*1965-NFA and FFA combine.
*1969- Women are allowed to become National FFA members.
*1971- The National FFA Alumni Association is founded.
*1982- Jan Eberly becomes the first female National FFA President.
*1996- FFA announces its move of the national convention to Louisville, Ky.
*1999- The national FFA convention is held for the first time in Louisville.
Today there are more than 500,823 FFA members, ages 12-21 and 7,358 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
38% of FFA members are female; women hold more than 50% of state leadership positions
77% of our membership is Caucasian; 17% is Hispanic and 4% is African-American
89% of FFA members are in grades 9-12; 6% are in grades 7-8; 5% are high school graduates
27% of FFA members live in rural, farm areas; the remainder live in rural non-farm (39%),
urban and suburban areas (34%)
*Information found at www.ffa.org