AMERICAN DEGREE: This is the highest degree an FFA student can acquire. To apply for this degree, a student must demonstrate the most outstanding involvement within the chapter and provide records of their supervised SAE project, which should display their ability to plan, manage, and finance with expertise. This degree is difficult to earn, but worthy of the hard work. The full list of requirements to apply for this degree are:
- Have received a Greenhand FFA Degree, Chapter FFA Degree, and State FFA Degree.
- Have been FFA members for at least three years.
- Have completed at least three years (540 hours) of high school agriculture classes, or 2 years of high school agriculture classes and one year of college agriculture classes (360 hours.)
- Have graduated from high school one year prior to the National FFA Convention at which their degree will be awarded.
- Have maintained detailed SAE records, which demonstrate outstanding planning, managerial, and financial skills.
- Have earned and productively invested at least $7,500, or have earned and productively invested at least $1,500 and worked 2,250 hours beyond scheduled school hours through their SAEs.
- Effective Jan. 1, 2015: A student after entering agricultural education must have: (a.) Earn at least $10,000 and productively invested $7,500 or (b.) Have earned and productively invested at least $2,000 and worked 2,250 unpaid hours in excess of scheduled class time; Any combination of hours, times a factor of 3.56 plus actual dollars earned and productively invested must be equal to or greater than the number 10,000. Hours used for the purpose of producing earnings reported as productively invested income shall not be duplicated as hours of credit to meet the minimum requirements for the degree.
- Have a record of outstanding leadership skills. Have completed at least 50 hours of community service within at least three different community service activities. These hours are in addition to the paid or unpaid supervised agricultural experience hours.
- Have a record of outstanding leadership skills.
- Have a record of participating in community service activities. Updated Community Service Requirements: Have completed at least 50 hours of community service within at least three different community service activities. These hours are in addition to the paid or unpaid supervised agricultural experience hours.
- Have maintained a “C” grade average or better.