The beginning of the Washington FFA Foundation goes back to the 1930's to a man named Ed Graff of Hermiston, Oregon. A successful wheat farmer, Mr. Graff invested his earnings in stocks and bonds. Upon his death he willed one third of his investments to 10 organizations.

Because Mr. Graff felt so good about a Walla Walla FFA Chapter member, who had worked for him, he left about $40,000 worth of stocks and bonds to the Washington FFA. The FFA member he remembered was Roger Moore, Washington's first American Farmer Degree recipient in 1931. Earnings from the stocks and bonds provided incentive awards to the FFA members of Washington. In 1977, the Graff Estate was combined with the state FFA foundation and formed the basis for the Washington FFA Foundation trust fund.