FFA History

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FFA History
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The Beginning

• The Smith-Hughes Act.
• Passed in 1917 the Smith-Hughes Act provided
  federal funds to start Vocational Agriculture
  classes.
• Future Farmers of Virginia.
• In 1925 a group of men meeting at VPI in
  Blacksburg began an organization of farm boys
  studying Vocational Agriculture.

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Where It All Began.
At this table, in September 1925, the Future
Farmers of Virginia was formed.
"In my opinion the farm boys of Virginia who are
enrolled in vocational agriculture are equal to
any other group of boys in the state. But somehow
the boys themselves seem to have a feeling of
inferiority. Especially is this true when the
farm boy goes to the city and has to compete with
his city cousin. This condition should not exist.
I believe that a strong organization of our boys
in agriculture would help them to overcome this
handicap. Let's form an organization that will
give them a greater opportunity for
self-expression and for the development of
leadership. In this way they will develop
confidence in their own ability and pride in the
fact that they are farm boys." (Walter S.
Newman)
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The Future Farmers of America

• While attending a national livestock contest in
  Kansas City Missouri, 33 vocational agriculture
  students officially formed the Future Farmers of
  America on November 20, 1928.

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Founding Fathers of the FFA

• Harry Sanders
• Edmund Magill

• Henry Groseclose
• Walter Newman

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First FFA Chapter
The First FFA Chapter was chartered in Weyers
Cave, VA.
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Important Dates in FFA History

• 1917 Smith Hughes Act Passed.
• 1928 The Future Farmers of America formed in
  Kansas City Missouri.
• 1930 The FFA Creed, written by E. M. Tiffany,
  was adopted.
• 1933 The first Official FFA Jackets were
  introduced.
• 1944 The National FFA Foundation Inc. was
  formed.

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Important Dates in FFA History

• 1948 The National FFA Supply Service opened.
• 1950 Public Law 740 passed, giving the FFA a
  Federal Charter.
• 1952 The National Future Farmer magazine was
  first published.
• 1959 -- The National FFA Center was dedicated in
  Alexandria, VA.

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Important Dates in FFA History

• 1965 The FFA and the NFA merged.
• 1969 Females were admitted to official
  membership.
• 1971 The National FFA Alumni Association was
  founded.
• 1982 First female National FFA President, Jan
  Eberly, of California.

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Important Dates in FFA History

• 1988 Delegates to the National Convention voted
  to change the name to The National FFA
  Organization.
• 1989 The name of the magazine was changed to
  FFA New Horizons.
• 1998 The new National FFA Center in
  Indianapolis, Indiana is dedicated.
• 1999 For the first time ever, the National FFA
  Convention is held in Louisville, Kentucky.

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Work Cited

• FFA Student Handbook Indianapolis, IN National
  FFA Organization, 12th edition
• Taylor, Walter N and Crunkilton, John R. A
  History of the Future Farmers of America in
  Virginia. Blacksburg, VA VPI SU. 1979