About Iowa FFA

The Iowa Association is a youth organization of more than 20,500 student members as part of 270 local FFA chapters across Iowa. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. The Iowa FFA Association was organized by delegates from 23 schools at Iowa State College on May 17, 1929 and is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The Iowa Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to local agricultural education programs.

A World of Opportunities

FFA is a dynamic youth organization that is a part of agricultural education programs at middle and high schools. Today, student members are engaged in a wide range of curriculum and FFA activities, leading to more than 235 career opportunities in agriculture. The letters “FFA” stand for Future Farmers of America; however, in 1988 the official name of the organization was changed from “Future Farmers of America” to “The National FFA Organization” to reflect the growing diversity of agriculture.

Public Law 116-7

In 1950, the 81st Congress of the United States, recognizing the importance of FFA as an integral part of the program of vocational agriculture, granted a Federal Charter to FFA via Public Law 81-740. This law established the charter in Title 36 of United States Code. In 1998, the 105th Congress reviewed and passed technical amendments to the FFA Federal Charter as part of Public Law 105-225. In 2019, the 116th Congress reviewed and passed additional amendments to the FFA Federal Charter as Public Law 116-7, specifying the integral nature of FFA to the instruction of agricultural education in the United States.

The Agricultural Education Mission

Agricultural Education prepares students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in the global agriculture, food, fiber and natural resources systems.

Non-Discrimination Statement

It is the policy of the Iowa Department of Education not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sexual orientation, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, political party affiliation, or actual or potential parental, family or marital status in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code sections 216.9 and 256.10(2), Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d2000e), the Equal Pay Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 206, et seq.), Title IX (Educational Amendments, 20 U.S.C.§§ 1681 – 1688), Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq.). If you have questions or complaints related to compliance with this policy by the Iowa Department of Education, please contact the legal counsel for the Iowa Department of Education, Grimes State Office Building, 400 E. 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0146, telephone number: 515-281-5295, or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204-3582, telephone number: 303-844-5695, TDD number: 800-877-8339, email: [email protected]

Iowa FFA Governance

Board of Directors

The Iowa FFA Association Board of Directors is a concurrent board made up of nine student officers (state FFA officers) and nine adult board members. A final decision on every item of business must be made by both the student and adult boards in order for it to pass or fail.

State Staff

The Iowa FFA Association State Staff coordinate day to day operations of the organization. The Executive Director and Programs Coordinator operate from the FFA Enrichment Center and the State FFA Advisor is the AFNR Consultant at the Iowa Department of Education.

The agricultural education program provides a well-rounded, practical approach to learning through: classroom education, hands-on supervised agricultural career experiences and FFA.