With almost 1 million FFA members and over 700,000 alumni members in the National FFA Organization, less than 1 percent receive the distinguished American FFA Degree.

When the 2023 awards are presented at the 96th National FFA Convention and Expo, 12 Kingfisher County graduates will be among the elite number receiving the honor.

During the convention held Nov. 1-4 in Indianapolis, Ind., each individual will receive a certificate and gold key recognizing their commitment to FFA and the effort applied toward their supervised agricultural experience, outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement they exhibited through their FFA career.

“The American FFA Degree is quite literally the gold standard,” said Megan (Thormodsgard) Mueggenborg, currently the FFA adviser at Lomega.

Prior to joining the Lomega staff this year, Mueggenborg spent four years as the co-adviser at Kingfisher and played a major role in helping those in Kingfisher FFA earn their respective degrees.

“When these FFA members are awarded the golden key charm, this symbolizes their leadership abilities, community involvement as well as their commitment to their supervised agricultural experience throughout their time in the FFA,” Mueggenborg continued.

“The American FFA Degree is an impressive achievement and something these students should be very proud of as this is the highest degree achievable within the organization.”

Receiving the honor from the Kingfisher Class of 2022 are Rylie Farrar, Bridget Himes, Emma Lukasek, James Perdue and Allyson Scammahorn.

Other 2022 graduates include Evan Endres of Okarche, Emily Hawk and Ryan Pribil of Hennessey and Ryann Ball of Cashion.

Also receiving the award are Blake Henrichs, Okarche Class of 2021, and Whitney Glazier and Tate Ott, Lomega Class of 2020.

The American FFA Degree is the highest degree achievable in the National FFA Organization and recipients must meet a rigorous set of requirements to earn the distinction.

To be eligible, recipients must first be awarded the State FFA Degree, hold an active membership for the past three years, have completed at least three years in a high school agricultural education program and established and maintained an outstanding supervised agricultural experience program.

Recipients must also have graduated at least 12 months prior to receiving the award, have a record of outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement, maintained satisfactory grades and completed at least 50 hours of community service as well as additional requirements.

Some of the county recipients’ high school accomplishments and activities follow:

Kingfisher FFA

Farrar, the daughter of Jodie and Jeremy Blevins and Tyler and Jacque Farrar, served as FFA parliamentarian and reporter and junior class secretary and was FFA Ag sales state runner up. She was also listed on the Principal’s Honor Roll, selected as a Student of the Month and was a member of the cheer team and the Oklahoma and National Honor Societies.

Himes, the daughter of Mike and Janet Himes, was a FFA state speech finalist, FFA marketing plan state finalist, FFA state farm business management CDE finalist and one-act play state winner. She also served as the Center of Family Love Teen Board vice president, was involved in soccer and STUCO and a member of the Oklahoma and National Honor Societies.

Lukasek, the daughter of Justin and Lori Lukasek, served as FFA sentinel, class officer, HOBY youth ambassador and was listed on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll and as a Student of the Month. She was also involved in softball and STUCO and was a member of the Oklahoma and National Honor Societies.

Perdue, the son of Jim and Debra Perdue, served as FFA vice president, class officer, National Honor Society vice president and was an Oklahoma Boys State delegate and Kingfisher County 4-H Hall of Fame honoree. He also received the FFA Star agribusiness award, was a National Shooting Sports ambassador and a member of the baseball team and the Oklahoma and National Honor Societies.

Scammahorn, the daughter of Shawn and Erin Scammahorn, received third overall in NOC milk quality and products, Kingfisher County showman, reserve champion market barrow and FFA Member of the Month. She was also listed on the Principal’s Honor Roll, selected as a Student of the Month, was a softball manager and received the anatomy excellence award.

Okarche FFA

Endres, the son of John and Lisa Endres, served as FFA president, was in Letterman’s Club, BETA Club and STUCO. He was also a member of the National Honor Society and involved in basketball and baseball.

Henrichs, the son of Jeff and Allison Henrichs, served as FFA president, National Honor Society vice president and was involved in STUCO, FCA, BETA Club and 4-H.

Hennessey FFA

Hawk, the daughter of Jason and Christi Hawk, served as FFA president, vice president and reporter and received Kingfisher County grand champion ewe lamb, reserve grand champion market wether lamb and overall showman. She was also a Northwest District premium sale qualifi er, Oklahoma Youth Expo premium sale qualifier and OYE reserve champion and listed on the Principal’s Honor Roll.

Pribil, the son of Cindy and Roger Pribil, served as FFA president, vice president and treasurer, received state diversified ag first place and was a member of the National Honor Society.

Lomega FFA

Glazier, the daughter of Lori Glazier and the late Dale Glazier, served as an FFA officer for three years, was an Oklahoma FFA profi ciency finalist, National FFA Convention proficiency finalist, Northwest area speech contest qualifier and received Northwest District Junior Livestock Show champion Hampshire gilt. She also was a basketball manager, a member of the Oklahoma and National Honor Societies and listed on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll.

Ott, the son of John and Debra Ott, was on the American Farmers and Ranchers Youth Advisory Council, received fourth place in state FFA Creed, champion Yorkshire gilt at the Tulsa State Fair and was a FFA state speech finalist. He was also a member of the state champion and runner- up cross country teams, state academic champion basketball team, the National Honor Society, received fourth place in the 3,200 meter state track meet and was a Lions Student of the Semester.

Cashion FFA

Ball, the daughter of Diana Chickering, was FFA vice president and reporter, received the FFA Discovery Degree, FFA Greenhand Degree, FFA Chapter Degree and Kingfisher County overall champion barrow and gilt. She also received the swine production proficiency award, poultry production proficiency award and BPA top 20 in National Promotional Photography.

As the recipients take the stage to accept their awards, they’ll be recognized for their dedication to FFA, having gone above and beyond to achieve excellence and the promise they show for the future.