1980s-1990s: The Urban FFA

Jan Eberly meets Ronald Reagan, 1982

1982

Jan Eberly becomes the first female National FFA President.

Explore the documents:

Click the image to read a 1987 study about the suitability of the name "Future Farmers of America"

1988

Delegates to the National FFA Convention change "Future Farmers of America" to the "National FFA Organization" to recognize the growth of agriculture and agricultural education to encompass the more than 300 careers in the science, business, and technology of agriculture. 

Delegates also opened FFA membership to middle school students.

Corey Flournoy, speaking in a meeting with other national officers

1994

Corey Flournoy of Chicago, Illinois, is elected National FFA President, becoming the organization's first African-American president and first urban student leader. Flournoy's jacket is one of the five FFA jackets held by the Smithsonian.

Screenshot of the FFA website from 1996

1996

The National FFA web site, National FFA Online, goes live. 

Explore the documents: 

Click here to go to the Internet Archive's copy of the National FFA Website as it appeared in 1996.

1998

The National FFA Convention was held in Kansas City, Missouri, for the last time in November 1998; the convention set an attendance record, drawing 49,240 members, guests, and supporters. 

The National FFA Center moves to Indianapolis, Indiana, from Alexandria, Virginia.  The National FFA Center houses the National FFA Organization, the National FFA Foundation, and the National FFA Alumni Association. 

Students napping in front of Freedom Hall at the 1999 National Convention

1999

The National FFA Convention is held in Louisville, Kentucky, for the first time and will stay in Louisville through 2005; attendance this year was 46,918.