Getting an FFA State Degree is a big accomplishment, and takes lots of time and effort to earn. For Yeraldi Cortez (12), this was something she worked on for years by staying active and involved in FFA.
The FFA State Degree application process begins with a requirement of at least two years in agricultural education, followed by having an active SAE project. Students also need to meet a certain number of FFA hours and earning from their SAE. They must log their SAE hours, earnings, and records, along with listing their FFA activities, leadership roles, and awards, and writing a short description of their involvement. To earn the degree, students must meet specific financial requirements based on what they have earned. After completing the application, an advisor carefully reviews everything to make sure it is accurate. Then it is submitted to the state FFA association, and once it is approved, the student receives their State Degree.
Cortez said she started the process by completing everything she needed, like getting over five hundred hours of FFA activities, going to dinners, working on her SAE projects, and doing lots of community service. These are all requirements students have to meet before you can qualify for your State Degree. She explained that it did not happen quickly; it took her about three years to finish everything. During that time, she completed four SAE projects, which helped her gain experience and learn more about agriculture.
Her SAE projects focused on raising animals. Her topics consisted of two goats and two rabbit meat pens. In her first year, she showed a goat at the Spring Fair and a rabbit pen at the Merced County Fair. In her second year, she showed another goat at the Spring Fair again. Now for her third and final year, she plans to show rabbits at the Spring Fair. Even though she has nit win any awards, her experience still helped her grow and learn responsibility through caring for her animals.
She was also really involved in her chapter. Cortez participated in a lot of dinners and activities, which helped her stay active in FFA and be part of her community. One of the biggest parts of her experience was showing animals. For two years, she showed market goats and market rabbits. This took a lot of responsibility because she had to take care of them every day and make sure they were ready for shows.
Cortez is still continuing her journey in agriculture. This year, she plans to show a pen of market rabbits at Merced County Spring Fair. This shows that even after qualifying for her State Degree, she is still dedicated and involved.
“It took a lot of time and hard work, but it was worth it in the end because I learned so much and got to be really involved in FFA,” Cortez said.
Cortez’s experience shows that earning an FFA State Degree takes time, hard work, and commitment. It is not something you can do in a short time, you have to stay consistent and keep working toward your goal.
