Twenty-nine Wyoming FFA members were chosen by the National FFA Organization to receive their American FFA Degree in October at the national FFA convention in Indianapolis, Ind.
“The American FFA Degree is awarded to FFA members who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to FFA and made significant accomplishments in their supervised agriculture experiences (SAE),” explained State FFA Advisor Stacy Broda.
Wyoming FFA members receiving the degree were:
Buffalo FFA: Blake Toyne, Taylor West
Buffalo Bill FFA (Cody): Hayden O Hara
Casper FFA: Benjamin Campbell, Trey Stuart Campbell, Tayler Dell Cotton, Korina Denae Potter,
Averi Quinn Reynolds, Timi Elise Reynolds, Raeanna Richey, Wilson Stewart
Cheyenne Frontier FFA: Savannah Nichole Birkle, Garrett Hartigan, Addysen Alayne Rosner,
Cheyenne High Plains FFA: Hunter Galluzzo
Chief Washakie FFA (Worland): Callie Jewel Klinghagen
Devils Tower FFA (Hulett): Bryson Mills, Katie May Rathbun,
Kaycee FFA: Ian McGivney, Kaycee
Powell-Shoshone FFA: Kinsey Lynn Ashby, Teodora Faulkner, Mallory Triplett
Shoshoni FFA: Katelyn Jennings, J.J. Pingetzer, Jason Thoren
Snowy Range FFA: Brooklynn Haylee Salo
Ten Sleep FFA: Madison Leigh Anderson
Thermopolis FFA: Jessie Renee Pennoyer
Torrington-Lingle FFA: Jared Spencer
To be eligible for the American FFA Degree, students must have earned and productively invested $7,500 in their SAE or worked 2,250 hours and earned/invested $1,500. Students must also have participated in community service activities and have a record of outstanding leadership skills. Recipients are selected by a committee of agriculture education advisors and submitted to the National FFA Organization.
Members will be honored in a special ceremony at the national convention. Approximately 3,500 American FFA Degrees are handed out each year at the national convention.
“Less than half of one percent of all FFA members receive the degree each year, making it one of the organization’s highest honors,” said Broda. “The degree represents six years of hard work and dedication on the part of our members. We are proud of all of these students and their many accomplishments.”
The Wyoming FFA Association is part of the National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America. This youth organization has more than half a million student members nationwide, and more than 2,900 in 54 chapters in Wyoming. 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.