Mendota FFA member Owen Wixom, center, recently received $500 from the Mendota FFA Alumni for obtaining his State FFA Degree. Attending the check presentation on July 3 are, left to right, FFA Alumni members Cory Biers, Brad Piller, Wixom, Brian Atherton and Nick Piller. (Reporter photo by Bonnie Morris)

MENDOTA -The Illinois FFA Degree is the highest honor that the Illinois Association FFA can bestow upon its members and is one of four degrees that an FFA member can earn during their high school career.

Local FFA chapters are able to recognize their members with the Greenhand FFA Degree for first year FFA members and the Chapter FFA Degree for members who meet the qualifications and have conducted an approved Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program. The State FFA Degree is the third step on the way to earning the prestigious American FFA Degree, which is awarded by the National FFA Organization every October during the National FFA Convention & Expo.

State FFA Degrees are earned by a relatively small percentage of over 17,000 members of the Illinois Association FFA. A full list of qualifications for the State FFA Degree can be found in the Illinois Association FFA Constitution and Bylaws at illinoisffa.org. 

This year, Mendota FFA Chapter member Owen Wixom earned his State FFA Degree. The award was presented during the Illinois FFA State Convention held in June. Because the Mendota FFA Alumni recognizes the commitment required to earn this degree, they have awarded this year’s recipient with a $500 endowment.

Last year, the Mendota FFA Alumni committed to award $500 to all Mendota FFA members who earn their State FFA Degree and $1,000 to members who go on to earn their American FFA Degree. For more information, please contact Matt Meyer, agriculture teacher/FFA Advisor at Mendota High School or any Mendota FFA Alumni member.

The Mendota FFA Alumni group began in 2002 and has grown to 65 members. Currently, the group includes 26 annual members and 39 life members. An annual membership is $25 per year and a lifetime membership is $250 (one time). They also have 25 associate members who are recent graduates from the Mendota High School FFA. Alumni membership is open to anyone interested in supporting the Mendota FFA. Members do not have to be from Mendota.

The drawdown held in March is the Alumni’s largest fundraiser and this year it raised the most money in 16 years. They also sponsor a toy show in the fall.

Last summer, the Alumni provided the funding to have concrete installed by the Waldorf Building and greenhouse at Mendota High School. Previously, they assisted with the move to the new high school in 2003 and provided funding for the current greenhouse used by the Mendota FFA. Over the years, they have also assisted with numerous learning opportunities in which the FFA Chapter participated.