FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

To accomplish its mission, FFA:

• Develops competent and assertive agricultural leadership.

• Increases awareness of the global and technological importance of agriculture and its contribution to our well-being.

• Strengthens the confidence of agriculture students in themselves and their work.

• Promotes the intelligent choice and establishment of an agricultural career.

• Encourages achievement in supervised agricultural experience programs.

• Encourages wise management of economic, environmental and human resources of the community.

• Develops interpersonal skills in teamwork, communications, human relations and social interaction.

• Builds character and promotes citizenship, volunteerism and patriotism.

• Promotes cooperation and cooperative attitudes among all people.

• Promotes healthy lifestyles.

• Encourages excellence in scholarship.

FFA members conduct themselves at all times to be a credit to their organization, chapter, school, community and family. FFA members pledge to:

1) Develop my potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success.

2) Make a positive difference in the lives of others.

3) Dress neatly and appropriately for the occasion.

4) Respect the rights of others and their property.

5) Be courteous, honest and fair with others.

6) Communicate in an appropriate, purposeful and positive manner.

7) Demonstrate good sportsmanship by being modest in winning and generous in defeat.

8) Make myself aware of FFA programs and activities and be an active participant.

9) Conduct and value a supervised agricultural experience program.

10) Strive to establish and enhance my skills through agricultural education in order to enter a successful career.

11) Appreciate and promote diversity in our organization.

Adopted by the Delegates at the 1952 National FFA Convention. Revised by the Delegates at the 1995 National FFA Convention.

Courtesy of: Kaitlyn Williams. A-P FFA does not have a Student Advisor

Active: Middle and High school students enrolled in agriculture courses (can continue 2 years after graduation).

Collegiate (PAS): Collegiate students in agriculture courses.

Alumni: Former FFA members and supporters of the FFA.

Honorary: A limited group of people selected because of their service provided to the FFA.

Greenhand: The local chapter awards the bronze pin to these recipients their first year in FFA, must learn about the FFA and have a plan for an SAE.

Chapter: The local chapter awards the silver pin to these recipients in their second year; students must have an active SAE in operation.

State: The gold pin is awarded to these recipients from the state association.

American: The gold key is awarded to members earning he highest degree a FFA member can receive.

FFA students wear a unique uniform that symbolizes their brotherhood, purpose, and mission. It is the most professional attire that FFA members can wear. Several items of the Official Dress may be in your wardrobe already. Many items can be found locally. But the FFA jacket and tie/scarf are only purchased from FFA. 

Note: Women may wear black slacks as an alternative to the black skirt.

No more than 3 pins should be work on the jacket. Should represent the highest degree earned, highest office held, and the highest award earned. 

Greenhand/Chapter Degree: Officer and award medals should be worn beneath the name on the right side of the jacket

State Degree or American Degree: Keys should be worn above the name on the right side of the jacket or attached to a standard key chain off the right hip using the flaps inside the official FFA jacket. 

1917: Smith-Hughes Act Passed. Provided federal aid to the states for the purpose of promoting precollegiate vocational education in agricultural and industrial trades and in home economics.

1928: Future Farmers of America (FFA) was founded.

1930: The FFA Creed was adopted.

1933: Blue corduroy jacket adopted as Official Dress.

1935: New Farmers of America (NFA) founded in Tuskegee, Alabama.

1965: NFA and FFA merged.

1969: Women were admitted to FFA.

1988: Future Farmers of America was officially changed to the National FFA Organization to reflect the growing diversity of students who do not simply come from rural/farming backgrounds. 

1999: The National FFA Convention is held in Louisville, KY. First national convention held in a city other than Kansas City, MO.

2006: The 79th National FFA Convention is held in Indianapolis for the first time.

2007: Membership breaks the half-million mark with 500,823 members in 7,358 chapters.

2023: Membership exceeds 945,000 members with 9,163 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Senator Hoke Smith (GA): Proposed legislation promoting Ag Ed nationwide.

Senator D.M. Hughes (GA): Proposed legislation promoting Ag Ed nationwide.

E.M. Tiffany: Author of the FFA Creed.

Leslie Applegate: First National President.

Henry Groseclose: Father of the FFA.

C.H. Lane: First National Advisor.

Dr. Gus Linter: Designer of the FFA jacket.

G.W. Owens: One of the founding fathers of NFA. 

H.O. Sargent: One of the founding fathers of NFA.

Fred McClure: First African American elected to hold a national office.

Julie Smiley: First female elected to hold a national office.

Jan Eberly: First female to be elected national FFA president.

Corey Flournoy: First African-American to be elected national FFA president.

Jose Santiago: First Puerto Rican to hold a national office.

Javier Moreno: First person with a native language other than English and the first Puerto Rican to be elected national FFA president.

Breanna Holbert: First African-American female to be elected national FFA president.

1st National Convention and every National Convention until 1998 were held in Kansas City, Missouri.

Moved to Louisville, Kentucky in 1999 until moving again in 2006 to Indianapolis, Indiana. 

The National FFA Convention & Expo will occur in Indianapolis through at least 2033.

Public Law 740 (federal charter): States FFA is an “intra-curricular” student activity, not simply an extracurricular part of the agricultural education program.