Six South O’Brien FFA members-Eric Mars, Abigail Boardman, Aidan Rehder, Jason Wittrock, Jack Farquhar and Bryce Rasmussen-received their State FFA Degrees this year at the State FFA Leadership Conference in Des Moines.
The Iowa FFA Degree is the highest degree that can be bestowed upon an FFA member by the Iowa FFA Association each year. Only 5% of the FFA members in Iowa receive the degree each year. To receive the Iowa FFA Degree, FFA members must meet the following standards: 1) Have been an active FFA member for at least 24 months; 2) Have completed at least two years of systematic instruction in agricultural education; 3) Have earned and productively invested at least $1,500 or worked at least 375 hours in a supervised agricultural experience program; 4) Have a satisfactory scholastic record; 5) Have demonstrated leadership abilities from a specific list of activities; 6) Have completed 25 hours of community service; and 7) Have participated in at least five different FFA activities above the local level. Each Iowa FFA Degree recipient received a certificate and the golden State FFA Degree Charm which is made possible with support from Pioneer-Corteva through the Iowa FFA Foundation.