FFA Then

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CHAPTER

• Chapter Overview
• History
• Foundation
• Band, Chorus and Talent
• Supply Service
• FFA International
• Alumni
• Star Awards
• Name Change
• FFA Opens Its Doors

FFA Then and Now
Chapter Selections
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C H A P T E R T W O
History
As a newcomer, becoming familiar with the FFAs
history and its purpose will help you understand
how you can benefit from all the organization has
to offer.
Just as agriculture in the United States has a
long and colorful history, so does the National
FFA Organization. The initial idea for forming
the organization began in 1917 when Congress
passed the National Vocational Education Act
which established vocational agriculture
classes.
This act is also known as the Smith-Hughes Act,
after the two congressman who wrote the
legislation. Would you like to read the
Smith-Hughes Act of 1917?
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C H A P T E R T W O
History

• The National Vocational Education Act, passed by
  Congress in 1917, established classes in
  vocational agriculture.

In the early 1920s, the state of Virginia formed
the first Future Farmers club for boys in
agriculture classes. Henry Groseclose, an
agriculture teacher from Blacksburg, Virginia
organized the Future Farmers of Virginia and is
commonly known as the father of the FFA. It
wasnt long before Future Farmer clubs were
springing up across the country.
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C H A P T E R T W O

• First National FFA Convention held in 1928
• Leslie Applegate elected first National FFA
  President
• Dr. C.H. Lane elected first National Advisor

History
In 1926, the American Royal Livestock Show in
Kansas City, Missouri, invited vocational
agriculture students to compete in livestock
judging contests. Two years later, the students
formed the Future Farmers of America to provide
leadership training for farm boys. While in
Kansas City for the American Royal, 33 delegates
from 18 states met in the Baltimore Hotel.
This date signifies the formal beginning of the
organization on November 20, 1928. National dues
were set a 10 cents per member. Leslie Applegate
of Freehold, New Jersey was elected as the first
National FFA President. The first National
Advisor was Dr. C.H. Lane
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C H A P T E R T W O
History
When the group met for its annual convention the
following year, 64 delegates from 33 states
participated. They named Carlton Patton from
Arkansas as the first recipient of the American
Star Farmer awards and selected national blue and
corn gold as the organizations official colors.
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C H A P T E R T W O

• The FFA Creed was written by E.M. Tiffany of
  Wisconsin and was approved by convention
  delegates in 1930
• Print a copy of the FFA Creed

FFA Creed Adopted
As the organization grew, the members started
building traditions. By 1930, E.M. Tiffany
(Erwin Milton) had written the FFA Creed, and it
was approved by delegates at the third National
FFA Convention. The creed was revised in 1965,
1987, and again in 1990. However, the basic
values and beliefs have remained consistent,
forming a solid foundation in which the
principles of the organization are based.
Watch the FFA Creed!
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C H A P T E R T W O

• Dr. Gus Lintner of Ohio designed the first FFA
  jacket
• My state was chartered in___________ and has
  _______ members.

Blue Corduroy Jackets Debuts in Kansas City
The official blue corduroy jacket was also born
in the 1930s. Dr. Gus Lintner, then advisor of
the Fredericktown, Ohio, FFA Chapter, was looking
for an appropriate uniform for the Fredericktown
Band which was to appear at the National FFA
Convention. Lintner designed the first jacket in
1933. The crisp blue jacket caught the attention
of the official delegates who voted to adopt it
as the organizations official dress.
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C H A P T E R T W O
More Firsts

• 1939 FFA purchases 28.5 acres
• FFA Foundation formed in 1944
• Delegates at the 1947 National Convention
  listened to the first National FFA Band

In 1939, FFA purchased 28.5 acres of land which
was once part of George Washington's Mount Vernon
estate near Alexandria, Virginia. The National
FFA Center has been relocated to Indianapolis,
Indiana. Watch the Virtual Tour Foundation
Formed In 1944, the National FFA Foundation,
Inc., the non-profit, fund-raising arm of the
organization was formed. Almost all of the FFAs
awards and incentives.
And incentives are made possible through private
donations by businesses and individuals to the
Foundation. It is headquartered in Madison,
Wisconsin, and is governed by a board of
individuals from business and industry.
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C H A P T E R T W O
Band, Chorus, and Supply Service
The National FFA Supply Service began operation
in 1948. It was originally formed to supply all
members with quality FFA jackets and chapter
equipment. Today, the supply company operation
markets everything from jackets to jewelry and
teddy bears wearing FFA t-shirts.
Delegates at the 1947 National convention were
treated to music from the first National FFA
Band, directed by Dr. Henry S. Brunner. The next
year the band was joined by the National FFA
Chorus and the National FFA Talent Program.
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C H A P T E R T W O
The 1950s
The National FUTURE FARMER magazine (now New
Horizons) was approved by National Convention
delegates in 1952 and the Code of Ethics was
adopted.
FFA marked its silver anniversary in 1953. The
U.S. Postal Service issued a special
commemorative stamp to mark the occasion, and
President Dwight D. Eisenhower addressed the
National Convention.
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C H A P T E R T W O
FFA Goes International
While continuing its rapid growth within the
United States, in 1955 the organization
established its international programs. FFA
assisted in the formation of similar
organizations around the world. Now you can
travel to more than 30 countries through a number
of FFA exchange programs.
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C H A P T E R T W O
Membership Opens
Prior to the merger, the NFA operated in 13
southern states, including the state of New
Jersey. The NFA jacket and emblem were
similar to the FFAs. Over 50,000 NFA members
became part of the
FFA in 1965.
To African Americans
And Women
The 1960s were turbulent years within the United
States. Dr. Martin Luther King JR.
led the civil rights movement and
women marched for equality. The
integration of public schools brought with it a
merger between the FFA and the New Farmers of
America, the organization for African American
agriculture students.
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C H A P T E R T W O

• FFA opened its doors to female members in 1969.
• FFA began publishing the National Future Farmer
  magazine in 1952.
• FFA merged with the African American agriculture
  organization, the New Farmers of America in 1965.

Women Join FFA
A constitutional amendment opened the doors of
membership to female agriculture students and was
passed by convention delegates in 1969. Today,
more than one-fourth of FFA membership is female.
Read the FFA Constitution.
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C H A P T E R T W O
Alumni Association Created
By the early 1970s, the need for a separate
organization for former FFA members became
apparent. The National FFA Alumni Association was
created in 1971 to fill this demand.
The alumni association exists to support
agricultural education, primarily the FFA student
organization.
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C H A P T E R T W O
National FFA Organization
Becomes

• 1988, Organization changes name to National FFA
  Organization.
• 1989, the National Future Farmer becomes the FFA
  New Horizons.
• 1990, delegates approved the fixed 475 delegate
  apportionment system.

National Future Farmers of America
The ever evolving world of agriculture prompted
delegates at the 1988 National Convention to
change the official name of the organization,
while opening membership to middle school students
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