History

1939  

The NFAA was founded. By the end of the year, there were state organizations in Washington, Oregon, New Jersey, Arizona and California with individual members scattered through Illinois, Ohio, Virginia, Michigan, New York, Minnesota, Kansas, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Texas. Today the NFAA has 49-chartered state organizations.

1940    

The first NFAA Outdoor Field Tournament was held by way of mail-in scorecards. E. Hill Turnock of Wilkinsburg, PA won the men’s division with an average score of 356 for 28 targets. The winning female was Naomi Baker of Inglewood, CA with an average of 196 for 28 targets.

1941

The NFAA Stump Emblem was created by Dick Schroeder, a nationally known artist, and an NFAA archer. 

1945  

Order of the Bone Adopted.

1946  

First NFAA National Championship (now National Outdoor) was held in Allegan, MI. 

1947

Compton Medal of Honor and NFAA Hall of Fame Established

1954  

Chartering of clubs began.  Today the NFAA has nearly 1,000 affiliated clubs.

1959  

The NFAA acquired its own office building and headquarters in Redlands, CA.

1959

Fellowship of the Robin Hood was established for NFAA members.

1962

The first Las Vegas Open or “Vegas Shoot” held in Las Vegas, NV.

1963  

Sectional tournaments standardized throughout the eight sections of the NFAA.

1964  

Service pins for continued membership in the NFAA were adopted.

1967  

The Youth Scholarship Program was founded.  Today, in partnership with Easton Foundations, the NFAA Foundation awards over $20,000 in scholarships per year to student athletes. 

1968 

New Youth Division provided for competitive NFAA Youth Members.

1969  

The NFAA becomes a National member of the International Field Archery Association.

1971  

The compound bow was allowed in all divisions.

1972  

NFAA Certified Instructor School was started.

1973 

The NFAA Professional Division was set up. 62 NFAA Professional Archers made their first appearance at the Outdoor Nationals to compete for a total purse of $2,800.

1974 

The NFAA introduced the flight system at the National Outdoor for the first time.

1977 

The NFAA Indoor Championship face and round was established.

1979 

The NFAA suffers a financial crisis and temporarily suspends the publication of Archery magazine.

1980

The first Indoor National Tournament is held in Omaha, NE with 524 shooters.

1984

The new NFAA Headquarters is completed in Redlands, CA.

1990 

The NFAA Foundation is established.

1991 

The first Unmarked 3D National Tournament is held in Hickory, NC.

1993

The Indoor National Tournament was held in Louisville, KY with a record number of 1,436 archers.

1994 

The NFAA challenged the US Olympic Committee to replace the NAA as the National Governing Body for archery.  The challenge was withdrawn in 1994 and the NFAA/NAA signed an agreement that included National tournament reciprocity for both organizations.

1995

The Western Classic Trail shoot in Redding, CA becomes home to the NFAA Marked 3D National Tournament.

1996 

The first NFAA website was implemented.

1999 

The NFAA purchases the World Archery Festival (The Vegas Shoot). The WAF becomes a separate corporation.

2001

The World Archery Festival purchases the Atlantic City Classic.

2002 

The NFAA and World Archery Festival begin the 3 Star Tour, including The Vegas Shoot, NFAA Indoor Nationals and the Classic.

2006

The WAF Classic is moved to Pittsburgh and renamed the Stanislawski Open in 2006.

2008

The NFAA Headquarters is moved from Redlands, CA to 800 Archery Lane Yankton, SD.

2008

The Classic is renamed the First Dakota Classic and moved to Yankton, SD.

2010

NFAA partnered with local businesses to break ground on a new KOA campground next to NFAA Headquarters.

2013 

NFAA launched a new website at www.nfaausa.com.

2014 

The Vegas Shoot hit a record number of attendees with over 2,150 registered archers.

2014 

The NFAA Easton Yankton Archery Center hosts the inaugural NFAA Outdoor National Target Championships. 

2015 

The Vegas Shoot celebrates its 50th installment with over 3,100 archers and it's first-ever Lucky Dog winner in the Championship Compound Male division. 

2017

NFAA Headquarters in Yankton, SD completes its second expansion of the NFAA Easton Yankton Archery Center, adding another 30,000 sq. ft. of indoor shooting space. 

2019

The NFAA unveils a new logo for the first time since 1941. The new mark provides a modern take on the traditional NFAA stump.  

2020

COVID-19 forces theNFAA to cancel NFAA Indoor Nationals in Louisville, KY. The NFAA hosts its first-ever virtual Indoor Nationals at 130+ clubs and shops across the United States. 

2021

The NFAA Foundation hosts the first-ever Rushmore Rumble with over 700 archers in Yankton, SD. 

2022

The NFAA launches a new National League program for Indoor and Outdoor disciplines. Participants compete over multiple weeks and NFAA rounds for the title of National League Champion.

2023

The Vegas Shoot returns to its pre-COVID numbers with an outstanding 3,812 archers. Partner events with S3DA, Nevada State NASP, and the Nevada State USA Archery chapter brought in an additional 1,000 participants for a total of nearly 5,000 total participating archers.