National FFA Organization Summary Notes

History and Legislation

  • Smith-Hughes Act (1917): First federal funding for high school vocational/job training and teachers' salaries.

  • Future Farmers of Virginia (1925): Formed by Henry Groseclose, Walter Newman, Harry Sanders, and Edmund Magill; served as the model for FFA.

  • Federal Charter (1950): Granted by Congress, tying FFA directly to the U.S. Department of Education.

Key Historical Milestones

  • 1928: FFA founded in Kansas City, MO. Leslie Applegate is the first national president.

  • 1929: National Blue and Corn Gold adopted as official colors.

  • 1930: Official FFA Creed by E.M. Tiffany is adopted.

  • 1933: Blue corduroy jacket adopted as official dress.

  • 1935: New Farmers of America (NFA) forms for African-American students; David Simmons is first president.

  • 1953: U.S. Post Office issues a special stamp for FFA's 25th anniversary; President Harry S. Truman speaks.

  • 1965: NFA merges with FFA following the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

  • 1969: FFA opens membership and officer positions to females.

  • 1973: Fred McClure becomes the first Black national officer.

  • 1982: Jan Eberly becomes the first female national FFA president.

  • 1988: Name officially changes to National Farmers Association.

  • 1994: Corey Flournoy becomes the first African-American national president.

  • 1998: National Farmers Association Center moves to Indianapolis, IN.

  • 2003: Javier Moreno becomes the first president whose native language is not English.

  • 2006: National Farmers Association Convention hosted in Indianapolis for the first time.

  • 2024: Reaches 1 million active student members.

  • 2027–2028: National Farmers Association celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Mission, Core Focus, and Trait Development

  • Mission: Develops student potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.

  • Three Core Focus Areas:

    • Premier leadership

    • Personal growth

    • Career success

  • Premier Leadership: Action, strong relationships, vision, and high character.

  • Key Traits Built: Confidence, responsibility, character, communication, goal setting, and independence.

  • How Traits are Developed: SAE projects, officer roles, competitions, and public speaking.

The FFA Motto

  • The Official Motto: "Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve."

  • Learning to Do: Gaining core knowledge in class and lab.

  • Doing to Learn: Applying lessons through hands-on practice (SAEs, competitions).

  • Earning to Live: Building a sustainable career to support yourself.

  • Living to Serve: Helping your community through servant leadership.

The FFA Creed

  • Author: E.M. Tiffany (Erwin Milton Tiffany).

  • Dates: Written in 1928, adopted in 1930.

  • Revisions: Revised twice (1965 and 1990) to fit a broader agricultural industry.

  • Purpose: Outlines the core values and beliefs of agricultural education.

The FFA Emblem Symbolism

  • Eagle: Freedom.

  • Cross Section of Corn: Unity.

  • Owl: Knowledge and wisdom.

  • Rising Sun: Progress.

  • Plow: Labor and tillage.

  • Emblazoned Words: Agricultural Education and FFA.

CTSOs and FFA vs. 4-H

  • CTSO Definition: Connects classroom learning with vocational jobs (e.g., FFA, SkillsUSA, BPA, HOSA).

  • FFA vs. 4-H Comparison:

    • FFA: School-based, agricultural focus, leadership, career development, SAE projects.

    • 4-H: Community-based, youth development, general leadership, and life skills.