Decatur FFA receives awards at state convention

DECATUR --The Decatur Future Farmers of America chapter received several honors at the 88th Arkansas FFA State Convention held at Camp Couchdale near Hot Springs June 3-5.

Decatur FFA received the National Chapter Award which recognizes chapters that successfully complete an annual program of activities, which includes a series of activities designed to encourage its members to grow as individuals, to work as part of a team, and to serve others.

The Decatur chapter also won the Affiliated Chapter award which is given to chapters with 100 percent membership. This means that every student taking an agriculture course is an FFA member. Membership dues for the Decatur chapter are paid through the Agriculture Education Department of the Decatur School District.

FFA for Food, Fiber and Shelter Award was given to the Decatur chapter in recognition of FFA members helping their communities. This year Decatur FFA provided Thanksgiving dinner for a family in need.

Alison Watson won gold in the Small Animal Proficiency division, while Lacy Barrett won first place in Swine Proficiency. Proficiencies are records of FFA members' project work, leadership activities, FFA activities, and money earned and losses. Students provide a detailed balance sheet on their application.

Lacy Barrett was a finalist for Stars Over Arkansas, which recognizes FFA members with the top State FFA Degrees.

Decatur FFA had nine members receive their State FFA Degree this year, the most state degrees the organization has received in a year. To be eligible to receive the State FFA Degree from the state association, a member must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Have received the Chapter FFA Degree.
• Completed the equivalent of at least 360 hours of systematic school instruction in agricultural education at or above the ninth-grade level, which includes a supervised agricultural experience program.
• Have earned and productively invested at least $1,000, or worked at least 300 hours in excess of scheduled class time, or a combination thereof, in an SAE program.
• Demonstrate leadership ability.
• Have a satisfactory scholastic record as certified by the local agricultural education instructor, principal or superintendent.
• Have participated in the planning and completion of the chapter's program of activities.
• Have participated in at least five different FFA activities above the chapter level.
• Have participated in at least 25 hours of community service within at least two different community service activities.

Earning their state FFA degrees were: Joey Barnes, Lacy Barrett, Kara Becker, Jesse Bruce, Haley Burden, Theodore Clements, Levi Duncan, Brody Funk and Samantha Goble.