Local FFA member receives national honor

Each year, the National FFA Organization honors the FFA members who show the utmost dedication to the organization through their desire to develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. That honor, the American FFA Degree, is bestowed upon a select group of individuals for years of academic and professional excellence.

Rachael Bloch, an FFA member representing the Merrill FFA chapter, was selected to join that exclusive list and was awarded the American FFA Degree at the 85th annual National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. The convention, held Oct. 24-27, is known as the largest student gathering in the United States.

The American FFA Degree is sponsored by Case IH, Farm Credit, Elanco, DuPont Pioneer and Syngesta as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. To be eligible, FFA members must have earned and productively invested $7,500 through a supervised agricultural program in which they start, own or hold a professional position in an existing agriculture enterprise. Recipients must also complete 50 community service hours, as well as demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement.

Each recipient of the American FFA Degree receives a gold American FFA Degree Key plus a certificate after being on-stage during the convention.