March 28, 2024

Garrett receives highest FFA Degree

The American FFA Degree Key is symbolic of the highest achievement of the National FFA Organization. When students become members of FFA, they first receive the Greenhand Degree. After a year of satisfactory work, their local chapter may award them the Chapter FFA Degree. The next degree, the State FFA Degree, is granted only by the State FFA Associations to members whose achievements in agriculture are truly exceptional. The American FFA Degree is awarded only by the National FFA Organization at the annual convention. The American FFA Degree recipients are truly the cream of the crop. For a member to receive this degree they must meet the following criteria:

1) Have received the State FFA Degree, have been an active member for the past three years (36 months) and have a record of satisfactory participation in the activities on the chapter and state level.  2. Have satisfactorily completed the equivalent of at least three years of systematic agricultural education school instruction.  3. Have graduated from high school at least 12 months prior to the national convention at which the degree is to be granted.  4. Have in operation and have maintained records to substantiate an outstanding supervised agricultural experience program, through which the member has exhibited comprehensive planning and managerial and financial expertise.  5. A student after entering agricultural education must have: a. Earn at least $10,000 and productively invested $7,500 or b. Earned and productively invested $2,000 and worked 2,250 hours in excess of scheduled class time.  6. Have a record of outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement and have achieved a high school scholastic record of “C” or better as certified by the principal or superintendent.  7. Have participated in at least 50 hours of community service within at least three different community service activities.

Sydney Garrett’s SAE project is Beef Production and working on Garrett Farms. For Beef Production she works with increasing her knowledge of owning cattle and how to properly manage and maintain her finances and her herd. Sydney started with six head and has grown her cattle herd to eleven head. For Garrett Farms she keeps track of the hours she helps her father and grandfather when working on the farm. The work she completes includes, but is not limited too, managing social media accounts, maintaining the farm website, photographing farm media, and assisting in daily management such as feeding, vaccinating, breeding, and farm repairs.