When the American FFA Degree recipients are presented their honors this year, there will once again be a strong Kingfisher County flavor.

Twelve county students will receive FFA’s highest honor at the 97th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. The convention itself will be held Oct. 23-26.

American FFA Degrees will be presented on the final day.

Those earning the degree include:

• Ivy Hartman, Caden Kitchens, Coleman Kitchens, Dustyn McLean, Jud Birdwell and Mayce Gibson of Kingfisher;

• Rylee Glazier, Madisyn Myers, Kelby Ott and Brooks Uhlenhake of Lomega;

• Jake Henrichs of Okarche; and

• Pedro Valles of Dover. The requirements to earn the American FFA Degree are set forth in the National FFA Constitution.

To be eligible to receive the American FFA Degree, members must meet qualifi cations such as receiving a State FFA Degree, holding active membership for the past three years, completing secondary instruction in an agricultural education program and operating an outstanding supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program.

Community service, leadership abilities and outstanding scholastic achievement are also required.

All applications are submitted to the National FFA Organization after approval of a member’s state association.

After review by national staff, the National FFA Board of Directors approve qualified candidates to receive the American FFA Degree at the National FFA Convention.

Jake Henrichs is a sophomore at Redlands Community College in El Reno. He’s majoring in ag business/ animal science.

Valles is a sophomore at Oklahoma State University and is majoring in nursing. He recently completed a term as a state FFA officer, the first-ever from Dover.

All four Lomega students are currently attending Oklahoma State University.

Ott is majoring in agribusiness.

Uhlenhake is studying agribusiness: farm and ranch management.

Myers is a pre-medical sciences major.

Glazier is carrying a double major in agriculture communications and agribusiness.

McLean most recently was on the meat judging team and studying animal science at Eastern Oklahoma State College.

Coleman Kitchens has earned his welding certifications from Chisholm Trail Technology Center and has a career at Nortek Air Solutions.

Hartman, Birdwell, Gibson and Caden Kitchens are all at OSU.

Hartman is studying applied exercise science and Birdwell animal science.

Gibson is working toward a dual degree in ag business and ag communications with a certificate in travel and tourism management.

Caden Kitchens is majoring in ag business.

Each recipient graduated from their respective high school in 2023.