The Birth of the FFA Uniform
Before adopting the now famous blue corduroy jackets, FFA experimented with a different look. This listing is for an FFA uniform being sold a couple of years before the introduction of the corduroy jacket, and is a much more militaristic look, composed of shirt, pants, and hat.
The blue corduroy jacket was first introduced in 1933 at the FFA National Convention by the delegates from the Fredericktown, Ohio FFA Chapter, led by Dr. Gus Lintner. It proved such a hit that it was quickly adopted as the new uniform.
Listen to a two-part oral history on the jacket by Gus Lintner
After the jacket was officially adopted in 1933, FFA licensed the rights to make and sell them to Universal Uniform Company, who they’d previously worked with. Other FFA goods (like jewelry and paper goods) were made and sold by other outside vendors.
This particular jacket would have been made shortly after the uniform was adopted. The jacket shown in the advertisement above has gold cording on the pockets, but this one has plain pockets.
Due to the hassle of students needing to order official FFA merchandise from several different vendors, at the 1947 National Convention FFA delegates voted to start their own supply service to obtain items at wholesale and then sell them directly to members. All proceeds from the sale of FFA uniforms and goods would go back to support FFA. The FFA Supply Service still outfits FFA members today.