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AMERICAN DEGREE

FFA has a dynamic degree system that rewards student's achievement as they progress in their leadership, interpersonal, and professional skills.
Overview

Students can begin their journey at the chapter level with the Discovery, Greenhand, and Chapter FFA Degrees. They can then apply for a State FFA Degree from the state association, and finally work toward the coveted American FFA Degree after graduating from high school.

Check below for a complete list of American Degree requirements. See all of the FFA Degrees available.

American Degree

The American FFA Degree is the highest honor awarded to FFA members who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to FFA and made significant accomplishments in their supervised agricultural experience. 

To be eligible to receive the American FFA Degree from the National FFA Organization, members must meet the following minimum qualifications:

  1. Have received the State FFA Degree, have been an active member for the past three years (36 months) and have a record of satisfactory participation in the activities on the chapter and state level.

  2. Have satisfactorily completed the equivalent of at least three years (540 hours) of systematic secondary school instruction in an agricultural education program, or have completed at least the equivalent of 360 hours of systematic secondary school instruction in agricultural education and one full year of enrollment in a postsecondary agricultural program, or have completed the program of agricultural education offered in the secondary school last attended.

  3. Have graduated from high school at least 12 months prior to the national convention at which the degree is to be granted.

  4. Have in operation and have maintained records to substantiate an outstanding supervised agricultural experience program, through which the member has exhibited comprehensive planning and managerial and financial expertise.

  5. A student after entering agricultural education must have:

    • Earn at least $10,000 and productively invested $7,500 or

    • Earned and productively invested $2,000 and worked 2,250 hours in excess of scheduled class time. Any combination of hours, times a factor of 3.56, plus actual dollars earned and productively invested must be equal to or greater than the number 10,000. Hours used for the purpose of producing earnings reported as productively invested income shall not be duplicated as hours of credit to meet the minimum requirements for the degree.

  6. Have a record of outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement and have achieved a high school scholastic record of “C” or better as certified by the principal or superintendent.

  7. Have participated in at least 50 hours of community service within at least three different community service activities. These hours are in addition to and cannot be duplicated as paid or unpaid supervised agricultural experience hours.

Questions? Contact your local FFA advisor for more information about the Chapter, Greenhand and Discovery degrees. Contact Minnesota FFA Association for State and American degree information.

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