National FFA Organization

FFA is an intracurricular student organization for those interested in agriculture and leadership. It is one of the three components of agricultural education.

What do the letters FFA stand for?

The official name of the organization is the National FFA Organization.

The letters “FFA” stand for Future Farmers of America. These letters are a part of our history and our heritage that will never change. But FFA is not just for students who want to be production farmers; FFA also welcomes members who aspire to careers as teachers, doctors, scientists, business owners and more. For this reason, the name of the organization was updated in 1988 after a vote of national convention delegates to reflect the growing diversity and new opportunities in the industry of agriculture.

Today, the National FFA Organization remains committed to the individual student, providing a path to achievement in premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

FFA continues to help the next generation rise up to meet those challenges by helping its members to develop their own unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of agricultural career pathways. So today, we are still the Future Farmers of America. But, we are the Future Biologists, Future Chemists, Future Veterinarians, Future Engineers and Future Entrepreneurs of America, too.

HOW TO JOIN

FFA is an integral part of agricultural education. To join FFA, you must be enrolled in an agriculture course OR have taken an ag course in the past year.

FFA New Horizons

With your FFA membership, you receive four issues of FFA New Horizons , the National FFA Organization’s member magazine. With entertaining and informative feature articles on everything from famous athletes and career spotlights to important FFA news, our award-winning magazine is a great resource for FFA members.

Career Advice, Hands-On Training

Do you know what you want to do after you finish high school? FFA can help you develop your skills and prepare you for that next step.

If you’re uncertain, FFA can help you determine which of agriculture’s 300 exciting career options match your personal interests and skills. If you’re like the 73 percent of today’s FFA members who already plan to pursue a career in agriculture, you know that there are options for almost any interest, whether you want to work indoors or outside, at a desk on in the lab, in the city or on a farm and with other people or on your own.

Even if you don’t choose a career in agriculture, the skills and training you gain through FFA will lead to success in any industry.

Leadership

FFA can help you become a leader. Through FFA, members strengthen their personal skills, learn to manage their time and discover how to respect themselves and gain respect from others. Leadership skills are developed throughout the FFA program from a local FFA chapter’s programs of activities; special local, state and national opportunities and experiences; state and national leadership conferences and workshops and career development events.

Competitions

FFA offers many opportunities for recognition at the local, state and national levels. You can even earn money for school through scholarships. Check out our programs and awards.

Scholarships

In 2015, the National FFA Organization awarded $2.7 million in scholarships designed to fit the diversity of our applicants.

Scholarships are sponsored by businesses and individuals through the National FFA Foundation and are given for a wide variety of experiences, career goals and higher education plans.

The selection process takes into account the whole student – FFA involvement, work experience, Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), community service, leadership skills and academics.

Learn more at www.FFA.org/scholarships

Earning Power

How would you like to get paid for learning? Many FFA members start their own businesses or work for an agricultural company in high school. Some FFA members have earned hundreds of thousands of dollars by the time they graduate from college by reinvesting their profits in their business.