PUEBLO Cheyenne Mortensen, Laura Heaton, Chantz Koskie and Jennifer McDonald of the Cortez FFA Chapter earned their State FFA Degree at the 84th State FFA Convention June 5-7. All four students received a certificate and a golden charm to hang on their FFA jacket in recognition of their FFA accomplishments, sponsored by Jimmy and Nita Smith of Rifle, Colo.
Students receiving their state degree were recognized at a dinner that was sponsored by Colorado State University-Pueblo.
The State FFA Degree is conferred to agricultural education students who submit an application, which must be approved by state staff. Among other requirements, students must have been members of the FFA for at least two years. Each member must also have invested $2,500 or worked 750 hours in their supervised agricultural experience program. The recipients also had to work 50 hours of community service, participate in at least seven activities above the chapter level, and graduate high school with at least a C average.
The State FFA Degree is the highest degree that a state can bestow upon its members. The names of all Cortez FFA members who have achieved this honor hang on a special plaque in the agricultural education classroom at Montezuma-Cortez High School. Amanda Ramos and Kevin McComb are their advisors.
Envision Your Impact was this years convention theme. More than 1,500 FFA members, advisors, supporters and guests attended the convention at Colorado State University in Pueblo, Colo.
FFA is an integral part of the Agricultural Education Division within the Colorado Community College System. The Colorado FFA Association currently stands with more than 4,700 members. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more information about Colorado FFA, visit http://coffa.org.