1. FFA Proficiency Awards & Degrees

2. Supervised Experience
Four FFA Degrees
American Degree
State Degree
Chapter Degree
Greenhand Degree
Supervised Experience

3. Supervised Experience
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.
Supervised Experience
Greenhand

4. 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

5. Greenhand Degree Requirements...
Own or have access to a FFA Manual and FFA Student Handbook
Submit a written application for the Greenhand Degree

6. 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.

7. Supervised Experience
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.
Supervised Experience
Greenhand
Chapter

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. Supervised Experience
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.
Supervised Experience
Greenhand
Chapter
State

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. Supervised Experience
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.
Supervised Experience
Greenhand
Chapter
State
American

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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.

20. FFA Proficiency Awards

21. 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.

22. Proficiency Awards Proficiency award winners are recognized at the:
local level
district, federation and/or area level
state level
national level

23. Proficiency Awards! There are 40+ categories of proficiency awards
Placement and entreprenuership SAE programs are recognized in each category
Entrepreneurship
Beef
Production
Placement

24. 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.

25. Proficiency Award Categories
Number of categories vary from year to year depending upon sponsorship.
The slides that follow show the typical categories

26. Agricultural Communications*

27. Agricultural Mechanical Technical Systems

28. Agricultural Processing*

29. Agricultural Sales and/or Service*

30. Beef Production

31. Cereal Grain Production

32. Dairy Production

33. Diversified Crop Production

34. Diversified Livestock Production

35. Emerging Agricultural Technology*

36. Environmental Science*

37. Equine Science

38. Feed Grain Production

39. Fiber Crop Production*

40. Floriculture*

41. Food Science and Technology*

42. Forage Production*

43. Forest Management*

44. Fruit and/or Vegetable Production*

45. Home and/or Community Development*

46. Horticulture*

47. Landscape Management*

48. Nursery Operations*

49. Oil Crop Production

50. Outdoor Recreation*

51. Poultry Production*

52. Sheep Production*

53. Small Animal Care*

54. Soil and Water Management*

55. Specialty Animal Production*

56. Specialty Crop Production*

57. Swine Production

58. Turf Grass Management*

59. Wildlife Management

60. 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.

61. Proficiency Award Tips
Look at past applications from the chapter.

62. Proficiency Award Tips
Take pictures throughout the year

63. 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)

64. Proficiency Award Tips
Neatness makes a big impression

65. Proficiency Award Tips
Visit the FFA Proficiency Award page on the World Wide Web. The URL is