FFA Degrees
One challenge for FFA members is to attain FFA degrees. With each new degree, it gets more challenging to get the next. Only a select few FFA members receive the National Degree each year.
FFA DEGREES
The five levels of degrees.
DISCOVERY DEGREE
To receive the Discovery Degree, the FFA member must be enrolled in an agriculture class during their 7th or 8th grade school year. They also must pay their dues for those years. They are required to participate in at least one local FFA activity. They must also demonstrate knowledge of agriculture careers, ownership, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Lastly, the member has to be able to identify their chapter’s POA.
GREENHAND DEGREE
To receive the Greenhand Degree, an FFA member must be enrolled in an agricultural class and have a completed Supervised Agriculture Experience. They need to be able to understand, explain, and know the FFA Creed, Salute, Motto, Emblem, Code of Ethics, demonstrate proper use of the official FFA jacket, History of FFA Organization, Chapter Constitution, bylaws of their chapter’s POA, and the Mission Statement. Finally, the member also has to have access to an Official FFA Manual and Official FFA Student Handbook.
CHAPTER DEGREE
To receive the Chapter FFA Degree, the FFA member has to have received the Greenhand FFA Degree. They have to be currently enrolled in a vocational agriculture class. They are required to have more than 180 hours of participation in agriculture education. They must have a Supervised Agricultural Experience. They need to participate and help with at least three events in their chapter’s Program of Activities. They also need to have led a group discussion or speech for 15 minutes. They need to show and demonstrate the five procedures of parliamentary law. The member must have invested at least $150.00 worth of their efforts or worked at least 45 hours on their SAE project outside of class time. They could also have a combination of both and still meet the requirement. They have to show progress towards FFA awards and achievements. They need to do at least 10 hours of community service that is not related to their SAE. Lastly, they need to submit a written application for their Chapter Degree to their advisor.
IOWA DEGREE
To receive the Iowa Degree from the Iowa FFA Association, an FFA member must have met all the previous requirements and received their Chapter FFA Degree. The FFA member must have been an active FFA member for at least 24 months. They need to have had at least two years or 360 hours of ag. curriculum. They must be above the ninth grade level with a completed SAE project to receive the State FFA Degree. They need to demonstrate the 10 procedures of parliamentary law. They must have also invested at least $1,000.00, and 300 hours outside of their required ag. class, or like before, have a combination of both. They need to perform a six-minute speech on an agriculture topic or serve as an officer or committee chairperson. They must participate in at least 25 hours of community service that need to be from two distinctly different areas. They must have good academic standings that will need to have been approved by the principal and their advisor. Finally, the member must participate in more than four different FFA activities above the local level.
AMERICAN DEGREE
To receive the American Degree from the National FFA Organization, the FFA member must have received the State FFA Degree. The member must be an FFA member for at least four years. They need to have records of their participation in events and activities on the local and state levels. They need to complete three years of ag. curriculum. They also need to have graduated from high school at least 12 months before the National Convention that they would be receiving this award. They must have a well kept Supervised Agriculture Experience. The member needs to have earned at least $10,000.00 and investing at least $7,500 into their SAE, or they must have earned and invested $2,000 while working 2,250 hours outside of the ag. classroom. They can have a combination of all as long as it equals the 10,000 requirement. They must also have records of their leadership and community involvement. They must maintain a C or above for a Grade Point Average that has been approved by their school’s principal. They must participate in at least three different community service hours projects that equal 50 hours worth of work. These hours cannot go towards their SAE. Lastly, the FFA member must submit the American FFA Degree application.