On Saturday October 31, 2015 thirty one New York State FFA members were conferred the American FFA Degree at the 88th National FFA Convention and Expo, in Lousiville, KY. This degree, the highest degree an FFA member can receive, is earned by less than .5% of the total FFA membership across the country, thereby establishing this as an achievement of great honor. Students earning this degree have continued to keep and maintain record books in their chosen supervised agricultural experience program. Each recipient was presented a degree certificate, and a gold FFA emblem charm to signify this accomplishment.
From New York State the following students earned the degree: Zachary Almeter, Pioneer FFA; Abraham Ashley, Pioneer FFA; Anne Marie Avery, Tri-Valley FFA; Stacie Lynn Bliss, Pioneer FFA; Hauk Matthew Boyes, Tri-Valley FFA; Kyle George Butler, Tri-Valley FFA; So W. Chon, Tri-Valley FFA; Gabrielle Rose Domagala, South Lewis FFA; Kristen Doyle, Tri-Valley FFA; Kaylee Eaton, Cattaraugus-Little Valley FFA; Ashley Exner, Tri-Valley FFA; Sierra Hennessey, Tri-Valley FFA; Rachael Humphrey, South Lewis FFA; Joshua Jacobs, Stockbridge Valley FFA; Katelyn Jaqueway, Schoharie Valley FFA; Nathan Joseph Leviker, Belleville Henderson FFA; Perry Lewis, Penn Yan FFA; Max Lindquist, Tri-Valley FFA; Garrett Marbot, Schoharie Valley FFA; Timothy Meeker, Stockbridge Valley FFA; Ryan Charles Merlau, Pioneer FFA; Brady Rogers, Tri-Valley FFA; Jacob Schloss, Pioneer FFA; Erik Shelmidine, Belleville Henderson FFA; Danielle Smith, Stockbridge Valley FFA; Jonathon Giles Smith, Stockbridge Valley FFA; Cheryl Staats, South Lewis FFA; Cierra Pearl Thomsen, Unadilla Valley FFA; Claire Tierney, Tri-Valley FFA; Mitchell Klein Vanormer, Madison FFA; and Ashley Willits, Lowville Academy FFA.
Sponsored by ADM Crop Risk Services, Case IH, DuPont Pioneer, Elanco, Farm Credit, and Syngenta as a special project of the National FFA Foundation, the award recognizes demonstrated ability and outstanding achievements in agricultural business, production, processing or service programs.
To be eligible, FFA members must have earned and productively invested $10,000 through a supervised agricultural experience program in which they start, own or hold a professional position in an existing agriculture enterprise. Recipients must also complete 50 hours of community service and demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and civic involvement.
About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 610,240 student members as part of 7,665 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 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. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org, on Facebook, Twitter and the official National FFA Organization blog.