History of the FFA jacket The inception of the FFA jacket dates back to 1933, where FFA advisor Gus Linter decided to customize a blue corduroy jacket with his chapter name on the back, after seeing one in the window of an Ohio hardware store. Debuting later that year at the 1933 FFA convention in Kansas City, the iconic blue corduroy FFA jacket quickly became adopted as the official organization’s attire. Many achievements were accomplished by the FFA throughout American history - most notably the New Farmers of America merging with the FFA in 1965 as a result of the Civil Rights Act. NFA president, Adolphus Pinson, gifted his jacket to the FFA at the 38th FFA Convention as an acknowledgment of the merger (shown in the second slide). Photographed in slide four was the first African-American officer in the FFA, the western region Vice President Fred McClure. With the progression of the Equal Rights Amendment movement, women were allowed to hold offices in the FFA and participate in events and conventions at higher levels; shown in slide six are the first female delegates of the FFA, Patricia Krowicki of New Jersey and Anita Decker of New York at the 1970 FFA convention. The FFA jacket has remained both a representation of the American working class and a symbol of progress. Although designs of the jacket have been improved and reimagined over the years (snaps were changed to zippers, and pocket shapes turned from squared to rounded), the iconic FFA emblem has remained the same. Dating back to 1926, Henry Groseclose worked with a Virginia Polytechnic grad student to concept the celebrated graphic. Symbols of corn, plow, owl, eagle, and rising sun depict the organization’s goals, vision, and history. Today, FFA jackets are still being collected and are considered one of the most sought-after vintage staples in many people’s wardrobes. A pair of 60s/70s FFA jackets, available in the showroom now.