Milestone Years in FFA

1928- Future Famers of America established in Kansas City, MO.

           First National FFA Convention in Kansas City: 33 delegates from 18 states: 2                        delegates from ND.

           National FFA Dues set at $0.10.

1929- Edward H. Jones was the first ND FFA Advisor.

           National Blue and Corn Gold adopted as official colors.

           On May 11, 1929, a delegation of 58 vocational agriculture students from 29 ND                    high schools met at the ND Agriculture College and decided to organize a State                      FFA Assn.

1930- Official FFA Creed adopted.

1931-  Governor George F. Shafer and Dr. J. H. Sheppard (President of ND Agriculture                  College) were the first recipients of the Honorary State Farmer Degrees.

1933- Blue corduroy jacket adopted as official dress.

1936- Ernest DeAlton became 2nd State FFA Advisor

1937- FFA membership reached over 1,000 members with 1,045 active members.

1938- Arden Burbidge of the Wm. A. Broyles Chapter from Park Riber was one of the                    Vice Presidents of the national organization.

1941- There were 45 active chapters in ND with 1,391.

           Earl Walterfrom Starkweather was elected Student Secretary of the national                          organization.

1943- The State FFA Convention was not held because of the war; a few officers were                       named to plan the next year's convention.

1944- National FFA Foundation was founded and first proficiency awards presented.

           State and National dues went from $0.25 up to $0.40.

1946- Wartime activities from 1941-46: Chapters collected 4,411,311 pounds of scrap                      metal; 770,838 pounds of paper; 4,414 bushels of rags; 169,583 pounds of                              rubber; 1,314 burlap bags.

           Total number of active and associate members who served in the armed forces of                  the US was 600.

1947- First National FFA Band at National Convention.

           Osborne Arlien from Rugby was elected as one of the vice presidents of the                            national organization.  

1948- First National FFA Chorus and Talent Program.

1950- Federal Charter granted by the U.S. Congress.

1952- Code of ethics adopted.

1953- ND FFA membership reached over 2,000 members.

           Commemorative FFA stamp issued by US Post Office Department.

1954- The State Convention had a total attendance of 500 with 96 delegates.

1957- There was a tornado during the state convention which damaged several campus                  buildings.

1959- Total expenditures for the State Convention was $6,233.21

1961- Darryl Eastvold from Mayville was elected as one of the vice presidents of the                        national organization.

1963- Stanley Amundson from Valley City was named Regional Star Farmer at the                          National Convention.

           The 34th State Convention held at NDSU in June was attended by 620 members                  and advisors.

           The average labor income of members who completed supervised farming                              programs during the year was $328.

1965- Merger of the New Farmers of America and Future Famers of America.

1966- First FFA National Agricultural Career Show at National Convention.

1969- Membership opened to female students in the National FFA.

           Past State Officers invited to 40th Anniversary at State Convention: 69 attended                  and were recognized.

           Approximately 1,000 members attended the state convention this year which was                an all-time high.

           Congressman Tom Kleppe received Honorary State Farmer Degree.

           After 33 years, Ernest L. DeAlton retired as State FFA Advisor.

           Don Erickson became third State FFA Advisor.

1970- The ND FFA membership was at an all-time high with 3500 members.

           ND State FFA Officer positions changed from "Officer at Large" to "Vice                                  Presidents".

1971- National FFA Alumni organization created.

           Gerald (Jerry) Wefflaufer, Bottineau, won high individual in the National Land                    Judging contest with a perfect score.

1972- The Wyndmere FFA chapter submitted the winning name of the FFA newsletter                  now to be called the FFA Roughrider Report.

1973- 60 females were in attendance at the State Convention with Debbie Brooks from                  Jamestown winning the state FFA Public Speaking contest.

1974- The Old Field House at NDSU replaced the past us of Festival Hall at the State                      FFA Convention.

1975- Shannon Simonson became Queen of the American Royal in Kansas City.

           ND elected first female state officer: Betty Gasel from Jamestown.

1976- First FFA Student Handbook published, written by State Advisor, Don Erickson.

1977- Golden Anniversary National Convention

           Jamestown FFA Chapter completed BOAC project: All Faith Memorial Chapel at                  the lake near Jamestown.

1978- ND FFA President Gregory Davidson and officers flew to Los Angeles to present                  Lawrence Welk the Honorary State FFA Degree on the Lawrence Welk Show.

1979- Two FFA camps were held for the first time in the Northern Unit of the Theodore                Roosevelt National Park .

           The entire Naitonal FFA officer team visited North Dakota.

           50th Anniversary of the State Convention.

           ND FFA membership reached an all time high of 6,071 members.

           Karen Mastel from Beach won both State Extemporaneous Public Speaking CDE                  and State Memorized Public Speaking CDE.

1980- Joel Janke became 4th State FFA Advisor.

           The ND FFA Foundation is established.

1984- $1 from each of the members' dues were donated to the ND FFA Foundation.

           First Female State FFA President in ND- Judy Wolfe.

1986- First Agriscience Teacher of the Year Award.

1987- The ND FFA Alumni Association started.

           Paul Foss from Maddock won the National Poultry Proficiency Award.

           First national television satellite broadcast of National FFA Convention.

1988- Name changed to National FFA Organization.

           To celebrate the 3 millionth FFA jacket ever made, each state FFA President                          received a commemorative jacket. President Tom Lilja's 3,000,030 jacket hangs                  in the ND FFA Foundation office today. 

1989- The words "Vocational Agriculture" on the FFA emblem changed to Agricultural                  Education.

           The National Future Farmer Magazine title is changed to FFA New Horizons.

           ND FFA Alumni Association conducted its first annual meeting during the                              Greenhand Leadership Conference in Minot.

           All the awards presented by the association had the 1989 ND Centennial logo on                  them.

           State Sweetheart program is discontinued and the State Ambassador program                      started.

           Over 160 FFA former officers and other alumni were in attendance at the                                Centennial Reunion at the State Convention.

1991- Tom Lilja, ND's 1988-89 State FFA President, is chosen to be an American Royal                  Ambassador.

1993- Kermit Ketterling of Wishek is named Star Farmer Finalist at National                                    Convention.

1994- Shawna (Titus) McFarland of Powers Lake served as the last ND State FFA                            Sweetheart.

1995- April Hanson of Velva is selected as the first ND State FFA Ambassador.

1996- ND Farm Credit Services has been providing the Official Student Handbook to                      ND FFA members for 20 years.

           First H.O. Sargent Awards presented.

1997- The ND State Crops Show dedicated to Bev and Joel Janke for their work with                      the FFA and the Winter Show.

           Excessive snow load caused partial collapse of the ND Winter Show Building                          roof. The Winter Show Committee repared the roof and held the Winter Show 6                    weeks late.

1998- Steve Zimmerman becomes 5th State FFA Advisor.

           Tribute to Joel Janke at his retirement: approximately 90 past state officers were                 in atttendance.

           The last of 71 National Conventions was held in Kansas City.

1999- The ND FFA Alumni and FFA Foundation held the first annual auction during                       the State Fair.

            Erica Kenner is the finalist for Star Farmer of America.

            First National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

2000-Brady Miller of Wahpeton was finalist for Star Farmer of America.

2001- Maddock FFA Chapter held its first annual Chapter Officer Retreat.

           Chris Brossart of Rugby was finalist for Star Agri-businessman of America.

           Amber Haugland from Divide County was elected as one of the Vice Presidents                    of the National Organization.

2002-Bev Janke retired from the ND FFA Foundation and Beth Bakke Stenehjem                          named as replacement.

           Joel Janke received a special National VIP Citation for his significant                                      contributions to agricultural education.

           The inaugural issue of the ND FFA Foundation Newsletter is sent to donors and                    supporters. 

2003-House Bill 1299 was passed at the ND Legislature which allowed for an ND FFA                    license plate.

           70 ND FFA members received their American FFA degrees at National                                    Convention.

           Kevin Teigen from Rugby won the National Diversified Crop Proficiency award.

2004-ND FFA celebrated their 75th Anniversary with a t-shirt contest, "Guests from                      our past" picnic with 175 alumni and friends, and the planting of a tree on NDSU                  campus with soil from FFA chapters.

           Wade Bomber of Finley/Sharon selected as the first male State FFA Ambassador.

2005-ND FFA had 6 national finalists in proficiency areas:

           Brad Fritel of Rugby won the National Diversified Crop Prodcution Proficiency.

           Neil Veen of Carrington won the National Forage Production Proficiency.                                Finalists were Derek Beckley of Carrington in Turf Grass Management                                    Placement Proficiency, Lee Copenhaver of Carrington in Sheep Production                            Proficiency, Robert Foertsch of Wyndmere in Emerging Ag Technology                                  Proficiency, Seth Schulz of Carrington in Ag Process Proficiency, Kevin Moch of                    Napoleon is named the National High Individual in Farm Business Management.                Robert Foertsch (Wyndmere) was also a National Agriscience Student Winner.

           ND FFA members raised more than $8,000 for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

2006-The ND FFA thanked Farm Credit Services for 30 years of giving to the FFA.                          Farm Credit Services has provided FFA handbooks to incoming FFA members                      for all those years.

           The Blue Jackets Bright Futures program was born, providing jackets to young                      FFA members. Forty-seven members received jackets at the State FFA                                    Convention.

           The ND FFA Foundation received land in Richland and Sargent counties from                      the Fridtjov Bakk Trust. The funds from this farm are used for SAE grants,                            college scholarships, and young farmer scholarships in the Farm Business                              Management Program.

           Richland 44 was a finalist in the NAtional FFA Models of Innovation Community                Development.

           ND had 5 national finalists in proficiency areas: Ben Beach of Carrington in Ag                      Design and Fabrication, Andrew Draeger of Wyndmere in Food Science and                          Technology, Alexis Freier of Medina in Environmental Science and Natural                            Resources, Nick Hafner of Carrington in Ag Mechanics and Energy Systems, and                  Steve Mattern of Rugby in Ag Processing.

2007-ND had 2 national finalists in proficiency areas: Mitchell Becker of Minot was the                national winner in Agricultural Education proficiency and Cooper Tonnessen of                    Granville was a finalist in Ag Processing.

           Neil Veen of the Carrington FFA Chapter performed his own song on stage at the                  National FFA Convention's final session.

2008-Nine FFA members from ND recorded a talent CD which was sold by the                                foundation.

           Tony Boehm (Richland 44) received National Agriscience Teacher Award.

           National Ag Sales Champions were from Napoleon. Robert Foertsch, Wyndmere                  is National Star in Agriscience Finalist.

2009-The National FFA celebrated the 40th anniversary of women in the National                          FFA.

           ND had two finalists in the proficiency areas at the National Convention: Kami                      Slaughter of Medina in Environmental Science and Natural Resources                                    Management and August Heupel of Medina in Figer and Oil Crop Production                        Proficiency.

           Doug Vannurden, Assistant State Supervisor, retired after over 20 years in the                      state office (from 1986-2009).

2010- Vance Zacharias of the Enderlin FFA Chapter won the national award for Fiber                    and/or Oil Crop Production Proficiency. The Minot FFA team won the National                    Agriculture Sales and Service Career Development Event.

           The ND FFA Foundation office moved to 909 Basin Ave. in Bismark.

2011- Daniel Deck of Harvey was named first Parliamentarian on a State Officer Team                  at the state convention.

           The ND FFA hosted a legislative picnic at the State Capitol steps for ND                                  legislators, their staff and elected officials.

           Cole Vculek of Oakes/Sargent Central was named Star Farmer over America;                        Vance Sacharias from Enderlin was finalist for National Diversified Crop                                Production Entreprenuership Proficiency. Richland 44 was a finalist in the Models

           of Innovation Community Development.

2012- Jesse Klebe of Bottineau tied for high individual in the National Land Judging                      contest with a perfect score. His advisor, Jerry Wettlaufer, did the same in 1971.

           Matthew Knudson of Maddock was the National Turf Grass Management                                Proficiency Winner. Just Zahradka was a finalist in the Agriscience Research-                        Integrated Systems Profiency.

2013- The blue corduroy jacket, official dress of the National FFA Organization, turned                  80 years old.

           Winter Leadership Conferences had a record 1100 students in attendance.

           The ND State Crops Show was dedicated to Steve Zimmerman for his work with                    the FFA and the Winter Show.

           Joel Janke was named the first ND FFA Foundation Friend of the Foundation.

           Vance Zachariaz from Enderlin was finalist for Star Farmer over America; Justin                  Zahradka of Park River won the National Agriscience Research - Plant Systems                    Proficiency award. Napoleon won Ag Sales CDE and Bailey Bitz National High                      individual in Ag Sales, Tyler Toepke Floyd of Wishek placed 1st National                                Agriscience Fair. The National FFA Convention reached a record attendance of                    over 62,000. Richland 44 FFA is recognized as the National Winner in the Models              of Innovation for Community Development and a finalist in the Student                                  Development category.

2014- More than 250 jackets were given out through the Blue Jackets Bright Futures                      Program to new members.