Hanford FFA wins national honors

Hanford FFA members came home with multiple awards from the 84th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis last month.

The Hanford FFA Chapter submitted its state-winning national chapter application to the National FFA Chapter Award program in June and was recognized as a 3-star winner during the national convention - the highest rating a chapter can be awarded.

The National FFA Chapter Award program, sponsored by John Deere, recognizes FFA chapters for developing and conducting a detailed Program of Activities. Each activity provides opportunities for members to excel in one of three areas: Student, chapter or community development. Every year, chapters are recognized as having earned a one, two, or three-star rating on their application.

In addition to the chapter recognition, Hanford FFA member William Brewster Jr. was the National Winner of Agricultural Processing Entrepreneurship Award, earning a $500 prize for his accomplishment.

Fifteen Hanford FFA Chapter Members received the highest honor the National FFA awards - the American FFA Degree. Five of those members traveled to Indianapolis to accept their degrees: Tyler Beck, Val Evans, Phillip Nunes, Kristyn Torres and Lee Wisecarver.

The American FFA Degree recognizes demonstrated leadership ability and outstanding achievements in agriculture business, production, processing or service programs. To be eligible, members must have earned and productively invested $7,500 through a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program in which they start, own or hold a professional position in an existing agriculture enterprise and serve 50 community service hours. Recipients must also make it their mission to demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement. Each award recipient received a Gold American FFA Degree key, and a certificate in a blue leatherette frame. Of the 540,379 FFA members nationwide, the 15 Hanford FFA Chapter members were among only 3,241 to be recognized in 2011.

“The Hanford community should be very proud of our FFA chapter for many accomplishments both as individuals and as a chapter during the 84th National FFA Convention,” FFA advisor Lilly Pimentel said.

HJUHSD HOME