National FFA Organization - FFA Structure

FFA Structure

FFA is represented at several different levels across the nation; FFA administration may change from state to state. The basic levels are the national level, serving all of the United States of America, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; the state level, serving an individual state association; and the chapter level, serving a school or set of schools in an area. By definition, there can be three types of chapters at the secondary level, they are middle for middle school, junior for ninth grade and senior which can be either tenth through twelfth or ninth through twelfth depending on the school. Other levels include districts, subdistricts, sections, regions, areas, federations, etc.

Originally created to serve high school students, the FFA has recently moved into middle schools where membership may begin as early as age 12, allowing members to become active earlier and stay active for longer. Each chapter is chartered as part of the state association and national organization. Collegiate chapters now exist as well.

Many levels also meet throughout the year in preliminary or final CDE contests hosted at schools in the division the can be CDEs or just banquets, barbecues, conventions, etc. this can vary state to state.

Most states hold FFA conventions at least once annually, where members get together to be inspired, renew their faith in agriculture, compete in CDEs, and much more. The National FFA Convention is held once a year in October, and was originally held in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1928–1998, but moved to Louisville, Kentucky (1999–2005), for seven years, and is currently held at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, from 2006 to present.