SAE

FFA Proficiency Awards & Degrees

SAE

Four FFA Degrees

• American Degree

• State Degree

• Chapter Degree

• Greenhand Degree

SAE

The Greenhand• The first FFA degree is the

Greenhand• Greenhands receive a pin in

the shape of the FFA emblem made of bronze

• Many FFA chapters recognize an Outstanding Greenhand at the end of the school year.

Greenhand

SAE

Greenhand Degree Requirements

• Be enrolled in Agricultural Education• Have satisfactory plans for a SAE• Explain the FFA creed, motto, salute, and

mission statement• Describe the FFA emblem and colors• Have a knowledge of the Code of Ethics and

proper use of the jacket• Have a knowledge of the FFA

SAE

Greenhand Degree Requirements...

• Own or have access to a FFA Manual and FFA Student Handbook

• Submit a written application for the Greenhand Degree

SAE

Greenhand Trivia

• A book titled “The Greenhand” was written in the 1930s and was later made into a movie.

• The movie was made in Georgia and involved actual FFA members and officials

• The story is about a FFA Greenhand.

SAE

Chapter Degree

• The second degree, which is given at the local level, is the chapter degree.

• Chapter degree recipients receive a pin in the shape of the FFA emblem made of silver.

Greenhand

Chapter

SAE

Chapter Degree Requirements

• Have the Greenhand Degree• Completed 180 hours (or equivalent) of

agricultural education• Have in operation an approved SAE program• Earned $150 from the SAE or worked 45

hours or a combination thereof• Have plans for continued SAE growth

SAE

Chapter Degree Requirements....

• Help conduct 3 official chapter functions found in the Program of Activities

• Lead a group discussion for 15 minutes• Demonstrate 5 parliamentary procedures• Submit a written application for the degree• Show progress in the FFA individual

achievement awards program• Have a satisfactory scholarship record

SAE

Chapter Degree Trivia

• Originally the chapter degree was called the “Future Farmer” degree; but this proved to be confusing. After about 10 years the name was changed.

SAE

State Degree

• The third degree, given at the state convention, is the State degree.

• State degree recipients receive a pin in the shape of the FFA emblem made of gold.

Greenhand

Chapter

State

SAE

State Degree Requirements

• Have received the Chapter FFA Degree• Have been an active FFA member for 2

years• Completed 360 hours (or equivalent) of

agricultural education• Earned and invested $1000 or worked at

least 300 hours or combination thereof

SAE

State Degree Requirements ...

• Demonstrate leadership ability by:(a) Performing 10 procedures of parliamentary law(b) Giving 6 min. speech on agriculture or FFA(c) Serving as an officer, committee chairperson, or member of chapter committee

SAE

State Degree Requirements...

• Have participated in planning and completion of chapter Program of Activities

• Have participated in 5 FFA activities above chapter level

• Have a satisfactory scholarship record

SAE

State Degree Trivia

• Originally, the chapter, state and American FFA degrees had the word “Farmer” as part of their official name. This word Farmer was dropped in 1988.

SAE

American Degree

• The fourth degree, given at the national convention, is the American degree.

• American degree recipients receive a pin in the shape of the FFA emblem made of gold. It is bigger than the state degree and has a special vertical bar attached.

Greenhand

Chapter

State

American

SAE

American Degree Requirements

• Have received the State FFA Degree• Have been an active FFA member for the

past 3 years• Have record of satisfactory participation • Completed 540 hours (or equivalent) of

agricultural education• Have graduated from high school

SAE

American Degree Requirements..

• Have in operation an approved SAE program• Earned $7,500 from the SAE or earned and

invested $1,500 and worked 2,250 hours• Have record of outstanding leadership

abilities and community involvement• Achieved a scholastic record of “C” or better

SAE

American Degree Trivia• During the first 10 years of the FFA the

only degree pin with the American eagle on the top was the American degree. The Greenhand, Chapter, and State degrees did not have the eagle. If you ever see a FFA pin without the eagle, it was made during the 1930s.

SAE

FFA Proficiency Awards

SAE

What is a Proficiency Award?

• An award presented by the National FFA to recognize excellence in a SAE program.

• There are over 40 areas of agriculture for which awards are available.

SAE

Proficiency Awards

• Proficiency award winners are recognized at the:– local level–district, federation and/or area level– state level–national level

SAE

Proficiency Awards!• There are 40+ categories of proficiency

awards• Placement and entreprenuership SAE

programs are recognized in each category

SAE

Proficiency Award Categories

• At the national level, the top four individuals in placement and in entrepreneurship are recognized in each category (a total of eight). If adequate sponsorship is not available both placement and entrepreneurship are grouped together for judging and the top four are recognized.

SAE

Proficiency Award Categories

• Number of categories vary from year to year depending upon sponsorship.

• The slides that follow show the typical categories

SAE

Agricultural Communications*

SAE

Agricultural Mechanical Technical Systems

SAE

Agricultural Processing*

SAE

Agricultural Sales and/or Service*

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Beef Production

SAE

Cereal Grain Production

SAE

Dairy Production

SAE

Diversified Crop Production

SAE

Diversified Livestock Production

SAE

Emerging Agricultural Technology*

SAE

Environmental Science*

SAE

Equine Science

SAE

Feed Grain Production

SAE

Fiber Crop Production*

SAE

Floriculture*

SAE

Food Science and Technology*

SAE

Forage Production*

SAE

Forest Management*

SAE

Fruit and/or Vegetable Production*

SAE

Home and/or Community Development*

SAE

Horticulture*

SAE

Landscape Management*

SAE

Nursery Operations*

SAE

Oil Crop Production

SAE

Outdoor Recreation*

SAE

Poultry Production*

SAE

Sheep Production*

SAE

Small Animal Care*

SAE

Soil and Water Management*

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Specialty Animal Production*

SAE

Specialty Crop Production*

SAE

Swine Production

SAE

Turf Grass Management*

SAE

Wildlife Management

SAE

Proficiency Award Tips

• Don’t wait until the junior or senior year to look at the application. Look at the application early and start working on it.

SAE

Proficiency Award Tips

• Look at past applications from the chapter.

SAE

Proficiency Award Tips

• Take pictures throughout the year

SAE

Proficiency Award Tips

• On pictures in the application:– Don’t Say “This is a picture of….”. The judges

know it is a picture.– Change shirts/caps– Make captions action oriented “Suckering

tomatoes has been shown to…”– Don’t show unsafe practices in your pictures

(such as no safety glasses while working on machinery)

SAE

Proficiency Award Tips

• Neatness makes a big impression

SAE

Proficiency Award Tips

• Visit the FFA Proficiency Award page on the World Wide Web. The URL is http://www.ffa.org/activities/index.html