Vocational agriculture education first got it start in 1917 when Congress passed the Smith-Hughes National Vocational Education Act.  This act allowed students to take classes in production agriculture.   These first students desired to be part of an organization with its roots in vocational agriculture.  Henry C. Groseclose, known as the father of FFA, established the FFV, or the Future Farmers of Virginia in the early 1920s for boys.  The idea took hold almost immediately.

In 1926, the American Royal in Kansas City, Missouri, invited students in vocational agriculture classes to take part in its livestock judging contests.   Just two years later, in 1928, a national organization, called the Future Farmers of America, was formed, and the first National FFA Convention was held in Kansas City.   The organization was only open to boys at that time.  The convention hosted 33 delegates from 18 states.  Dues for members at that time were 10 cents.  A year later that number jumped to 64 delegates from 33 states and was highlighted with the naming of the first Star Farmer of America, Carlton Patton.

In 1930, at the third National FFA Convention, E.M. Tiffany proposed his version of a creed for the Future Farmers of America.  This proposal was adopted and is still being used today with only slight revisions made at the 38th and 63rd national conventions.  By 1934, all but 2 states, Rhode Island and Alaska, were charter members of the FFA.  In 1939, a National FFA Camp was founded on the land which currently houses the National FFA Center.  (This property was also part of the estate of our first president of the United States, George Washington.)

Discovering a need for funds to be raised to enlarge the focus of FFA activities, the FFA Foundation was formed in 1944.  FFA delegates were first entertained by the FFA Band in 1947, followed by the FFA Chorus and the National Talent program in 1948.  The year 1948 also saw the opening of the FFA Supply Service.

Public Law 740, passed by Congress in 1950, granted the FFA a federal charter, which was later revised in 1979.  The National Future Farmer Magazine made its entrance in 1952, as did the FFA Code of Ethics.  The 25th anniversary of the FFA was recognized in 1953 by a special postage stamp and a visit from the President of the United States, Dwight Eisenhower.

Recognizing diversity as a strength of an organization, in 1955, the FFA went international. As a result, there are Future Farmer Organizations in Japan, Brazil, Columbia, Korea, Mexico, Panama, the Philippines and Thailand. School integration brought the New Farmers of America to the FFA This former organization for African-American agriculture students, which operated in 13 southern states, brought more than 50,000 NFA members to the FFA in 1965; in 1969, girls were allowed to join the FFA.

A new award, the Star Agribusinessman of America was added in 1969, and the first recipient was Ken Dunagan. In 1971 the FFA Alumni Organization was founded: Another significant change was made in 1988 when the organization changed its name from the Future Farmers of America to the National FFA Organization. Following suit, the National Future Farmer Magazine changed its name to FFA New Horizons.

The leadership of the FFA has played a significant role in the success of the National FFA Serving as the first national president was Leslie Applegate, N.J., while the first national advisor was Dr. C. H. Lane. The current national advisor is Larry D. Case; C. Coleman Harris is the national executive secretary; and K. Eugene Eulinger is the national treasurer.

National officers are selected each year at the National FFA Convention. Each state is allowed to have one candidate represent them in the selection process. Competition is tough and the candidates are terrific representatives of agriculture's finest young talent each year. Four vice presidents represent the southern, eastern, western and central regions of the U.S., along with a national secretary and president who are selected from at large:

The six-member national officer team for 1999-2000 includes the following members. Chris Vitelli, a 20-year-old from Plant City, Fla.; is the new national FFA president. Jodee Ruppel; a 20-year-old from Manchester, Md., was elected national FFA secretary. Vice presidents representing each region are: Leslie Small, 19, Arkansas City, Kan., central region; Joe Shultz, 20, Degraff, Ohio; eastern region; Carol Spruill, 19, Hoschton, Ga., southern region; Marshall Baker; 19, Portales, N.M., western region. The officers will take a year-long leave of absence from college to serve their terms.

The FFA has come a long way from the 1928 national convention with 33 delegates to a 1999 membership total of 451,997 Members in 7,268 chapters. There are members in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam and Rota (Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands). Adding agribusiness and leadership development concerns as well as the inclusion of all racial groups and women has also served to strengthen the FFA in its purpose to launch young people on their chosen agricultural careers.

FFA at Cumberland Regional

Cumberland Regional's FFA Chapter was chartered in 1977.