Courtesy photo.
SANTA MARIA — A record-setting 54 Santa Maria FFA students were awarded their State FFA Degree at the annual awards banquet held inside the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande last weekend.
The State FFA Degree is the highest degree a member can receive by the California State FFA Association. In order to qualify, members must have earned and productively invested at least $1,000 and worked 500 hours in excess of scheduled class time on an agriculture related project, have a record of outstanding leadership abilities, and have completed 25 hours of community involvement, according to Saint FFA Agriculture Teacher Shannon Powell.
Recipient Maria Magana, a junior said: “Through my experience in FFA I have raised both turkeys and a market lamb. This has taught me how to be responsible and how agriculture plays a role in my life. On Saturday, I was so excited to receive my state degree in front of my family.”
Proficiency Awards were also presented to eleven students with excellent work experience or ownership projects based on an application, the amount of time invested and money earned. These awards, honor students who have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers. Their projects ranged from livestock and small animal production to agriculture mechanics fabrication and vegetable crop production.
One students also qualified as a State Finalist in their respective proficiency area. Santa Maria FFA Graduate, Alonso Portillo qualified in the area of Agriculture Mechanics Design & Fabrication and will compete at the State Competition in Anaheim California in late April.