Brooke Mossbarger, Hannah Peterson, Gus Mitchem, Charlie Miller and Kayla Clyburn, members of the Miami Trace FFA Chapter, recently received the American FFA Degree.
Earning the degree means these recipients are part of a select group of individuals to be recognized for years of academic and professional excellence. The honor was presented on Oct. 31 at the 88th National FFA Convention, held in Louisville, Ky.
The American FFA Degree recognizes demonstrated leadership ability and outstanding achievements in agricultural business, production, processing or 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.
Each award recipient receives a gold American FFA Degree key, and certificate in a blue leatherette frame. Of more than 520,000 FFA members nationwide, the recipients from Miami Trace were five of only 3,448 to be recognized in 2015. The degree recognition program is sponsored by Case IH, DTN, Farm Credit, Pioneer Hi-Bred, and Syngenta as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.
The National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 520,284 student members (and counting)—all preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture—as part of 7,429 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The 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. The National FFA Organization operates under a Federal Charter granted by the 81st United States Congress, and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs. Visit www.ffa.org for more information.
