My American FFA Degree: Cody McClain

Cody McClain
Agriscience Education
Sophomore

 

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The American FFA degree is the highest degree that an FFA member can receive, and I had the opportunity to receive this honorable degree on October 22, 2016.

Throughout my lifetime, I have always strived to reach my fullest potential regardless of the obstacles that I faced. Receiving my American FFA degree was a goal that I set for myself after I had attended my first National FFA convention my freshman year of high school. I was born and raised on a grain production farm, and I had the opportunity to have many first hand experiences with growing and harvest crops for production agriculture. These experiences guided my passion for agriculture and everlasting interest to be active in the industry.

When I joined the Upper Sandusky FFA, I soon realized that I would be able to practice my very own agriculture business through an supervise agriculture experience project, which lead me to seek out the other endeavors in FFA such as the National American degree. As I endured my final State FFA convention, I recognize the impact that the FFA organization made in my life, so I decide at that moment that I wanted to continue to pursue my passion for agriculture and make a difference in the lives of other agriculturist as a FFA advisor.

Since the application deadline for the OSU Columbus had closed, I decided to attend Ohio State ATI. This was the beginning of a journey that created remarkable memories and allowed me to continue my tradition of excellence in the field of agriculture.

Even thought I retired my FFA jacket and finish a chapter of my life, I have began another chapter that will be fulfilled with new and exciting experiences. The American FFA degree is a major milestone in my life that will benefit my future success as an educator. To this end, I am thrilled that I am studying to be an agricultural educator and hope to help today’s youth in agriculture be able to wear their FFA jacket proudly and receive their American FFA degree.

My American FFA Degree: Micah Mensing

Micah Mensing
Oak Harbor, Ohio
Agriscience Education

I can remember six years ago sitting in the Agriscience Education classroom at Oak Harbor High School. As I worked through my freshman year I had the opportunity to experience state FFA convention. This experience ignited my passion for the FFA as I learned of the multitude of opportunities I could take advantage of over the next four years.

During those inspirational days as I thought about my future in this incredible organization I dreamed of one day having the opportunity to be recognized on the state and national level. Fortunately enough throughout my FFA journey my Supervised Agriculture Experience developed, and opportunities to serve my community increased. These events combined with my passion for agriculture allowed me to receive my State FFA Degree. Receiving this degree inspired me to set a new goal, I was determined to one day walk across the stage at National FFA Convention and receive the highest degree one could earn.

Fast-forward two years to this weekend when I zipped up my blue jacket for the final time. Emotions of thankfulness, passion, and excitement all filled my heart as I prepared to complete my final goal as a member. As I consider my accomplishment I am forever thankful for the incredible people that have guided and impacted me along the way, the life lessons that I have learned, and the experiences that have built me to be the person that I am today while on the journey to receive the American FFA Degree.

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My American FFA Degree: Kelse Brown

Kelse Brown
Edgerton, Ohio
Agriscience Education

Receiving my American FFA degree is the highest honor a member of the National FFA organization can receive. For me to receive this award is a great honor and has marked an end to my journey as a student/member of the FFA. Of an organization that has grown to over 600,000 members, I am a part of the 1% that has made the ultimate achievement of earning this degree. Over the past 6 years I have been able to meet some pretty amazing people and had the chance to engage in opportunities that never would have been possible without the FFA. I may have unzipped my jacket for the final time but the memories made, the lessons learned, and the passion and desire for success will stay close to me forever. I will always be a supporter of the National FFA Organization.

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Kelse Brown, American FFA Degree recipient

ACEL Students earn American Degree

The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership had 26 students receive their American Degree at the 2016 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana this past weekend.

The American FFA Degree is awarded to members who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to FFA and made significant accomplishments in their supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs). Approximately 3,500 American FFA Degrees are handed out each year at the National FFA Convention. That number represents less than half of one percent of all FFA members, making it one of the organizations highest honors. In addition to their degree, each recipient receives a gold American FFA Degree key.

Those students from our Department who received this honor include:

Agricultural Communication
Mindi Brookhart, Waynesfield Goshen FFA
Joanna Lininger, Mohawk FFA
Michaela Kramer, Botkins FFA
Devin Roth, Cory Rawson FFA

Agriscience Education
Kelse Brown, Edgerton FFA
Blake Campbell, Waterford FFA
Kristen Eisenhauer, Shelby FFA
Katie Fath, Firelands FFA
Connor Frame, Meadowbrook FFA
Katrina Harper, Caldwell FFA
Thomas Hoover, Sentinel Vocational Center FFA
Veronica Johnson, Georgetown FFA
Wyatt Jones, Greenfield McClain FFA
Sarah Landis, Valley View FFA
Cody McClain, Upper Sandusky FFA
Micah Mensing, Oak Harbor FFA
Savannah Miller, Blanchester FFA
Abigale Motter, Crestview-Ashland FFA
Amanda Seger, Fort Loramie FFA
Ellyse Shafer, Clear Fork Valley FFA
Emily Starlin, Logan FFA
Morgan Stoner, Elgin FFA
Adam Wagner, Ridgemont FFA
Kayla Walls, Parkway FFA
Sam Wander, Clearfork Valley FFA

Community Leadership
Sarah Bookman, Hillsdale FFA

Blue Corduroy Buckeye

By Sydney Snider
Moscow, Ohio
Agricultural Communication
Sophomore

 

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Sydney Snider is announced as Eastern Region Vice President

 

Just six years ago, I zipped up my blue corduroy jacket for the first time to attend National FFA Convention. I remember sitting in the nose bleed sections of the arena listening to the national officers speak about our organization and honor its members. My first trip to convention set me on a journey that transformed my life. That trip sparked a light within me to become more involved with FFA, grow as a leader, and become a stronger advocate for agriculture. Even though I didn’t realize it until much later, my first convention trip also led me to make the decision to run for national FFA office.

Running for office involved a lot of preparation, growth, and passion. However, my time spent preparing were some of the most influential and transformative months of my life and they led to a moment that will stay alive within my heart forever. As the final session began at the 88th National FFA Convention, I thought back to the first convention I attended and the passion that grew from that trip. These thoughts and memories allowed my worries and anxiety to leave and truly enjoy what could have been my last convention session in the blue jacket. As the election process began, I was calm and excited to find out who would serve our organization. The music began and nothing could prepare me for what was about to happen. Hearing “Ohio” called was one of the most surreal moments I’ve ever experienced. In an instant, everything seemed to slow down as I (not so gracefully) ran to the convention stage. Out of breath and in shock I could only hear the roar of the crowd and my heart beat loudly as my teammates and I gathered together for the first time.

This year, I am excited to serve an organization that has helped me discover countless values, skills, and passions. As a national FFA officer, I will spend the next year traveling around the country interacting with FFA members, advisors, sponsors, and supporters. I am proud to represent the Ohio FFA Association and The Ohio State University at the national level. As I am knee deep in training and preparation for the year, I am feeling especially grateful for the support and encouragement of those who have helped me along this journey. I look forward to bringing a piece of that, a piece of Ohio, everywhere I go this year.

 

This post was originally shared on the CFAES Student Blog.

My Last Step as a Member, and My First Step as Alum

By: Christine Balint
Agriscience Education

 

It was the moment I looked forward to in my entire high school career. To have my picture on the FFA chapter room wall. To become apart of the 0.5% of the FFA members to achieve such a high honor. I was proudly representing my chapter, my state, and my parents. Receiving my American FFA Degree was truly an amazing experience.

Even though you woke up at 5am to make sure you were dressed, registered and seated by 7:30am, every American Degree Recipient’s first day was the day they walked into their FFA classroom freshman year of high school. Over those short five years, I’ve changed into the person I am today. From the leadership nights, to county fairs, and National competitions to finishing the first Agriscience Education internship through the Ohio FFA, these experiences made me want to become an Agriscience Educator.

As an American Degree recipient, you are the celebrity for the day. There are teachers who stop foot traffic for you to walk, you get your picture taken at least 5 times, you can’t count how many hands you shook, and you get to be on the national stage with the national FFA president for a solid 3 seconds. You get to see your friends from FFA camp sophomore year, your friends from back home who are also in college, and all the new friends you’ve made since you graduated high school. I was grateful to have my sisters of Alpha Sigma Upsilon getting their American Degrees with me as well as past state officers, and members of ACEL and CFAES.

I had been waiting for this moment for throughout high school and into college and it was all over in only a few hours. It was the last time I would wear my jacket as a FFA member, and while the moment was sentimental, I know that it is the start of my involvement in Ag Education and as FFA alumni. This great organization has done so much for me, and now it is my turn to give back.

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Agricultural Communication CDE

By: Kaylee Reed
Agricultural Communication
Amanda, Ohio
Freshman

On October 28th and 29th, I competed in the Agricultural Communications CDE at National FFA Convention. For the Agricultural Communications CDE, you have to create a media plan, prepare and write a script that corresponds with the media plan, learn the APA manual, and learn how to do your practicums. I had done this contest at the state level two times before we won on the third time and advanced to nationals. However, my two teammates, who competed with me at the state level, had also won other CDEs at the state level, so they decided to do those contests other than agricultural communications. This left my FFA advisor in a pickle because we had to find two other people to compete in the CDE with me. Eventually we found Devon Mullen and Carlie Krile. Neither one knew much about the contest so we just took it one step at a time. On competition day, I was nervous to say the least. My team went in and did the best we could and at the end of the day, that is all I could ask of them. We got a silver rating, placing 20th in the nation. It was an amazing opportunity to even be able to compete at the national level and I am so thankful for it.

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I Will Forever Bleed Blue and Gold

By: Stephanie Wuebben
Agriscience Education
Xenia, Ohio
Sophomore

On the last Friday of October while everyone was preparing to go home, I was headed to Louisville. When my parents and I arrived, I was immediately thrown back into that sea of blue that we all know and love. Corduroy was everywhere, and I immediately thought back to my times in official dress with my chapter at national convention.

I woke before the sun rose on Saturday to prepare for my five seconds on stage that equals to countless hours of work and dedication. As I put on my blue corduroy I thought back to my four years of participating in this great organization, the four teachers who helped me through it, and all of my achievements in high school.

My blue corduroy isn’t just a jacket, it’s a part of me and contributes to who I am today. FFA caused me a lot of stress, loss of sleep, and a little anxiety, but I wouldn’t trade my experiences for anything. In spite of all that; FFA has taught me many life lessons, brought me many memories (good and bad), and has also given me the opportunity for lasting friendships, not only from within my chapter, but from all over because we share the same passion and hopes for agriculture. As I looked around the hall where all of us degree recipients were seated, or as I refer to them as my FFAmily, I saw many members who made my FFA career unforgettable.

I also saw the future of agriculture and I know it is in good hands. As I physically outgrow my jacket and time passes on I will never mentally outgrow the meaning and experiences that blue corduroy carries with it. My passion for the jacket is what drove me to major in Agriscience Education here at Ohio State ATI.

I will forever be an aggie and I will forever bleed blue and gold.

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Stephanie poses with her brother (an agricultural educator and Ohio State ASE alum) and parents following the American FFA Degree ceremony.

 

The Honor of the American FFA Degree

By: Katelyn Deaton

On October 31, 2015, I officially accepted the American FFA Degree. All the hours of working on my SAE projects, in the community, in the classroom, and practicing for and competing in CDE’s all lead up to an incredibly surreal fifteen seconds on the national convention stage to receive my degree and the acquisition the prestigious American FFA Degree key that I will forever cherish. I am extremely blessed to have had all the opportunities that I had through being involved National FFA Organization to be able to achieve such a high honor. As an Agriscience Education major in the department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership, I hope to be able influence and assist many students in accomplishing their goals as well as also receiving the American FFA Degree just as my teacher, Mr. Joseph Slone did for me.

Deaton, K

 

The Blue Corduroy Jacket

By: Logan Heiby
Coldwater, OH
Agriscience Education

Sophomore

Saying goodbye can be one of the hardest things to do in your life. Well, on October, 31st 2015 I said goodbye to being an FFA member and zipped up my blue corduroy jacket for the last time. October 31st was the day that I received my American FFA Degree. As I was waiting to go across the stage I sat in my chair and looked down at my jacket. I wanted to take in every detail about the jacket. The first thing I thought about were the places that I have been and the people I have met. This jacket gave me the chance to meet people from all over the nation. I have met many people through the FFA and created friendships that will last a lifetime.

I then looked at the right side of my jacket and in gold lettering I read my name along with the officer positions I held. I thought about my time as an officer and the impact I had on other members. I can only hope that I was able to be a great role model for the members of my chapter. There below my name hung three pins. I looked at the pins hanging on the outside and thought about the many pins that also hung on the inside of my jacket. Those pins were more than just decoration. Those pins reminded me of my time with the FFA and the skills I acquired over the last six years. I learned how to be a leader, how to be a team player, how to communicate with my peers, and I learned that my love for agriculture can open many doors for me.

Finally, it was time for me to walk across the stage with my degree in hand. I walked on stage waiting for my six seconds of fame. I walked over to the National FFA President and then I heard my name over the roar of screams coming from my chapter. I shook the National FFA President’s hand and a feeling of accomplishment and pride rushed over me. I finally received the highest honor in the FFA organization. After walking off stage I knew that I will always bleed blue and gold!

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