FFA Week: Some history

The Future Farmers of America (FFA) was established in November 1928 at the Baltimore Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, during the American Royal Livestock Show. Thirty-three delegates from 18 states gathered, establishing Missouri as the birthplace of the national organization. Leslie Applegate was elected the first national president.

Key Historical Milestones in Missouri and National FFA

• 1928: National organization founded in Kansas City, MO.
• 1933: The iconic blue corduroy jacket was adopted as Official Dress.
• 1965: New Farmers of America (NFA), an organization for African-American agricultural students, merged with FFA.
• 1969: Women were granted full membership privileges in the FFA.
• 1988: Renamed to the National FFA Organization to reflect diversifying agriculture.

Missouri FFA Today

• Membership:  Missouri has over 25,626 members across 353 chapters.
• Focus: The organization emphasizes leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.
• Legacy: Missouri remains a strong hub for agricultural education, with the state FFA convention continuing to be a major event.

For more information, you can visit the Missouri FFA Association website or the National FFA Organization website. 

 

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