The American FFA Degree An Introduction

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The American FFA DegreeAn Introduction
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National FFA OrganizationThe FFA Mission

• FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of
  students by developing their potential for
  premier leadership, personal growth and career
  success through agricultural education.

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The American FFA Degree

• The American FFA Degree is the highest level of
  membership.
• You must have received the Greenhand, Chapter and
  State FFA Degrees.
• Based on your SAE program, FFA leadership
  activities and community/school activities.

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Qualifications

• Been an active member for the past three years
  and a record of satisfactory participation in
  chapter and state FFA activities.
• Graduated from high school at least 12 months
  prior to the national convention at which the
  degree is to be granted.

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• Completed the equivalent of
• at least three years (540 hours) of secondary
  school instruction in an agricultural education
  program,
• or completed all of the agricultural education
  offered in the secondary school last attended
• or two years of secondary agriculture education
  and one year of instruction in a postsecondary
  agriculture program.

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• Have in operation an outstanding SAE program.
• Have earned and productively invested at least
  7500 or have earned and productively invested at
  least 1500 and worked 2,250 hours in excess of
  scheduled class time. Any combination of hours
  times a factor of 3.33 plus any dollar amount of
  earnings must be equal to, or greater than 9000.

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• The national constitution does not allow you to
  report hours you invested working on your
  entrepreneurship enterprise as unpaid hours. You
  can count only unpaid hours such as volunteer
  work, directed lab and/or research and
  experimentation.
• You need a record of outstanding leadership
  abilities and community involvement and have a
  high school scholastic record of C or better.

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SAE Programs

• SAE programs form the basis of the American FFA
  Degree. It usually takes six to seven years of
  an SAE program before you can obtain the degree.
  If you are just starting in FFA think about the
  following
• What do you want from your SAE program?
• Do you want your own business?
• Do you want to learn skills for a specific career?

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• There are two types of SAE programs,
  entrepreneurship and placement.
• Entrepreneurship programs involve ownership of
  one or more agricultural production or
  agribusiness enterprises.
• Placement programs are work or experiences that
  may be paid or unpaid. Examples would include
  working at an agribusiness, doing research and
  experimentation, directed laboratory or home
  improvement.

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• Both placement and entrepreneurship programs may
  be used or a combination of the two programs to
  apply for the American FFA Degree

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Selection of Recipients

• All candidates who meet the minimum
  constitutional requirements are eligible to
  receive the degree.
• Chapter advisors and state staff check for
  accuracy and verify meeting requirements.
• Sent by state to National FFA Center by June 30
  for review.
• Qualified candidates are recommended to the
  National FFA Board of Directors in July.

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What do you need to do?

• Keep your SAE records up to date. Updating your
  records weekly will make filling out the
  application quick and EASY!
• Become involved with FFA on the chapter, state
  and national level.
• Become involved with associations related to your
  SAE program. For example if you are interested in
  landscaping, contact your state landscape
  association for information.

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Help Resources

• Local chapter advisor
• FFA Alumni and business persons
• Other teachers in your school
• English/business teachers
• Vocational teachers in fields related to your SAE
• State FFA staff
• National FFA- Kevin Keith 317-802-4254 email
  kkeith_at_ffa.org

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Additional Resources

• SAE Central website-www.cals.ncsu.edu/agexed/sae/t
  oolbox/ index. html
• National FFA website-www.ffa.org
• American FFA Degree handbook
• Electronic applications on National FFA website