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 Left to right: Jacci Erwin, Holly Sheets, Grant McNamee and Justin Monroe. FFA Members receive National FFA's highest honor By Autumn Bumgarner Four members of the North Union FFA chapter received the National FFA organization's highest honor. Holly Sheets, Justin Monroe, Grant McNamee, and Jacci Erwin were presented with the American FFA Degree at the 82nd National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. The American FFA Degree recognizes members who demonstrate leadership abilities and outstanding achievements in agricultural business, production, processing and service programs. To be eligible, members must have earned and productively invested $7,500 through a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program in which they start, own, or hold a professional position in an existing agriculture enterprise. Recipients must also make it their mission to demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement.
Less than one of every 154 FFA members advance through their local chapter and state FFA degree programs to earn the national degree. Some of their activities included State and National Convention, career development teams, FFA camp, junior fair board, and community service.
Each award recipient receives a gold American FFA Degree key, and certificate in a blue leatherette frame. Of 507,763 FFA members nationwide, only 3299 will be recognized in 2009 with the awarding of the American FFA Degree. The degree recognition program is sponsored by Case IH, The Farm Credit System, Pioneer Hi-Bred, Inc. and Syngenta as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.
National FFA Organization changed to its present name in 1988, in recognition of the growth and diversity of agriculture and agricultural education. 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. Visit www.ffa.org for more information. |