Chapter Chapter SelectionsSelections

Chapter Chapter OverviewOverview

•History

•Foundation

•Band, Chorus and Talent

•Supply Service

•FFA International

•Alumni

•Star Awards

•Name Change

•FFA Opens Its Doors

As a newcomer, As a newcomer, becoming familiar becoming familiar with the FFA’s with the FFA’s history and its history and its purpose will help purpose will help you understand how you understand how you can benefit from you can benefit from all the organization all the organization has to offer.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?

C H A P T E R T W O

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

•First National First National FFA FFA Convention Convention held in 1928held in 1928

•Leslie Leslie Applegate Applegate elected first elected first National FFA National FFA PresidentPresident

•Dr. C.H. Lane Dr. C.H. Lane elected first elected first National National AdvisorAdvisor

C H A P T E R T W O

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 organization’s official colors.

C H A P T E R T W O

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.

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

•Print a copy of the FFA Creed

Watch the FFA Creed!

C H A P T E R T W O

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 organization’s official dress.

Blue Corduroy Jackets Debuts in Kansas City•Dr. Gus Lintner of Dr. Gus Lintner of

Ohio designed the Ohio designed the first FFA jacketfirst FFA jacket

•My state was My state was chartered chartered in___________ in___________ and has _______ and has _______ members.members.

C H A P T E R T W O

•1939 FFA 1939 FFA purchases 28.5 purchases 28.5 acresacres

•FFA Foundation FFA Foundation formed in 1944formed in 1944

•Delegates at the Delegates at the 1947 National 1947 National Convention listened Convention listened to the first National to the first National FFA BandFFA Band

More FirstsIn 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 FFA’s 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.

C H A P T E R T W O

Band, Chorus, and Supply Service

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.

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.

C H A P T E R T W O

The 1950sThe 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.

C H A P T E R T W O

FFA Goes InternationalWhile 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.

C H A P T E R T W O

Membership Opens

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.

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 FFA’s. Over 50,000 NFA members became part of the FFA in 1965.

C H A P T E R T W O

•FFA opened its FFA opened its doors to female doors to female members in members in 1969.1969.

•FFA began FFA began publishing the publishing the National Future National Future Farmer Farmer magazine in magazine in 1952.1952.

•FFA merged FFA merged with the African with the African American American agriculture agriculture organization, the organization, the New Farmers of New Farmers of America in America in 1965.1965.

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.

C H A P T E R T W O

Alumni Association Created

By the early 1970’s, 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.

C H A P T E R T W O

National Future Farmers of America

Becomes

National FFA Organization

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

•1988, Organization 1988, Organization changes name to changes name to National FFA National FFA Organization.Organization.

•1989, the National 1989, the National Future Farmer Future Farmer becomes the FFA becomes the FFA New Horizons.New Horizons.

•1990, delegates 1990, delegates approved the fixed approved the fixed 475 delegate 475 delegate apportionment apportionment system.system.

Chapter Selections

C H A P T E R T W O