Several students from Cloudland High School’s Future Farmers of America chapter recently received honors at the State FFA convention.

Nine students from the chapter received their State FFA Degree from the Tennessee State Future Farmers of America Association.

Those students were:

• Amber Webb, 11th grade

• Hope Russell, 11th grade

• Andrew Jarrett, 12th grade

• Ethan Holtsclaw, 12th grade

• Titus Guinn, 12th grade

• Kelsey Reed, 12th grade

• Emily Heaton, 12th grade

• Joseph Trivette, 12th grade

• Ethen Cable, 12th grade

In order to earn a State FFA Degree, the students must complete several requirements and have demonstrated participation in their local chapter events.

The State FFA Degree requirements are as follows:

• Received a Chapter FFA Degree.

• Have been an active FFA member for at least two years (24 months) at the time of receiving the State FFA Degree

• Have completed at least 2 years (360 hours) of systematic school instruction in agricultural education at our above the ninth grade level, which includes a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE).

• Have earned and productively invested at least $1,000, or have worked at least 300 hours outside of schedule class time through an SAE.

• Demonstrated leadership ability by performing 10 parliamentary law procedures, giving a six-minute speech on a topic relating to agriculture or FFA, and serving as an FFA officer, committee chairperson, or committee member.

• Have a satisfactory academic record, certified by the agriculture teacher and the school principal or superintendent.

• Participated in the planning and implementation of the chapter’s Program of Activities.

• Participated in at least five different FFA activities above the chapter level.

• Complete at least 25 hours of community service in a minimum of two different activities. All community service hours are cumulative, i.e. the 10 community service hours used to obtain the chapter degree can be used toward the state degree.

In addition to the nine students earning the State Degree, one of the students also received two other honors.

Hope Russell, 11th grade, was selected to perform on the main stage at the State Convention after sending in an audition tape to the State Talent Program. Hope performed “Coat of Many Colors” by Dolly Parton on the main stage with a crowd of 3,245 individuals.

Lastly, Russell was also awarded a $5,000 scholarship to the school of her choice from the Richard Wallrath Educational Foundation. She received this scholarship by watching the film “Deep in the Heart” (an autobiography of Richard Wallrath’s very moving life) and composing an essay identifying the most compelling and inspiring aspects of the life of Richard Wallrath. Of 96 entries in the state, she was selected as one of six scholarship recipients.