A Thomas County Central High School graduate made good on her goal to earn the ultimate mark from the National FFA Organization. Aubrey Palmer, a TCCHS Class of 2020 member, recently learned she achieved the American FFA Degree.
“My American degree is something that I have always wanted to achieve ever since I started FFA,” Palmer said. “It means a lot to me because it is something that I have worked hard to get. I felt that obtaining this degree would help me with my leadership skills and would also show how much work it takes to earn something that you want to achieve.”
The National FFA Organization bestows the American FFA Degree upon a select group of students to recognize their academic and professional excellence. According to the National FFA Organization press release, it awards 3,863 American Degrees this year; only 152 recipients are from Georgia, and less than one percent of all FFA members receive one.
The sponsored degree spotlights individuals who have demonstrated both ability and exceptional achievements in agricultural business, production, processing or service programs. Also, recipients exemplify dedication to the National FFA Organization via leadership, personal growth and career success within agricultural education. Eligibility requirements are in the National FFA Constitution. These include 50 hours of community service, outstanding leadership abilities and civic involvement through numerous FFA and community activities, and successfully completing a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE).
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 760,000 student members and 8,700 local FFA chapters in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. It strives to affect positive change by helping members develop leadership potential, experience personal growth, and find career success through agricultural education.
FFA is in Palmer’s DNA; it’s a family tradition. Her grandfather, Elmo VanBuren Palmer, also a member, taught agriculture classes at TCCHS. Her father was one as well, and Palmer decided to follow in his footsteps and go one step further to earn the degree.
“My dad was also a huge member of FFA and was so involved in everything they had to offer,” Palmer said. “When he would tell me stories about FFA, I would think to myself, they were so interesting and hoped to be in FFA one day just like my grandpa and my dad.”
Also, joining FFA allowed her to meet new people at events and conventions while amassing agricultural knowledge.
“The most valuable thing that I learned in the FFA was that agriculture is a huge part of people’s lives, and how important it is to keep agriculture a big part of this world,” Palmer said.
TCCHS FFA chapter adviser Nikki Smith said Palmer was one of her first students and FFA members when she began teaching there in 2017.
“I have seen her develop into a passionate advocate for FFA and agriculture,” Smith said of Palmer. “She has shown tremendous growth throughout the years and has always strived to be the best she can be. It comes as no surprise that she has earned the prestigious American degree. She has put in countless hours and hard work to earn this degree, and we could not be prouder of how far she has come through FFA.”
Currently, Palmer attends Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and majors in nursing.
The organization will present the degrees to recipients during the 94th National FFA Convention & Expo, scheduled for Oct. 27-30. Each honoree receives a gold American FFA Degree key and certificate. And Palmer plans to put hers to good use.
“I will use this degree when I am applying for new jobs,” she said. “I plan on being a part of what the FFA has to offer in college and meeting a lot of new people. My dream one day is to own a farm and spend as much time on it as possible.”
For more information, visit FFA.org.