Iowa FFA Degree Requirement Revision Questions

Per the 2015 National FFA Constitution, all degree requirements will be preceded by the statement:

"A student after entering agricultural education must have:”

Current Iowa FFA Degree Requirements per Iowa FFA Constitution:

A. Received Chapter Degree at least 24 months before time of receiving Iowa Degree.

B. Completed the equivalent of at least two years (360 hours) of systematic school instruction in Agriculture Education of above the ninth grade level, which includes a supervised agricultural experience program.

C. Have earned and productively invested at least $1,000, or worked at least 300 hours in excess of scheduled class time, or a combination thereof, in a supervised agricultural experience program.

G. Have participated in at least five approved FFA activities above the chapter level.

I. Have completed at least 25 hrs. of community service in a minimum of two different activities.


Note 1: MS FFA = Middle School FFA
Note 2: State rules may be more stringent than National rules, but may NOT be less stringent.


  1. A. Have received the Chapter FFA Degree and have been an active FFA member for at least two years (24 months) at the time of receiving the Iowa FFA Degree.
    Increase A. -- to more than 24 months FFA membership
    Increase A. -- to more than 24 months FFA membership, ONLY if MS FFA is included
    No Change to A.


  1. A student after entering agricultural education must have:

    B. Have completed the equivalent of at least two years (360 hours) of systematic school instruction in Agriculture Education of above the ninth grade level, which includes a supervised agricultural experience program.

    Note: For the last twenty years, "two years of courses" is has often been 240 hours. This is antiquated language, courses have been measured in Carnegie Units for many years.
    Change 360 hours to 2 Carnegie Units
    Change 360 hours to 240 hours
    No Change to Hours in B.


  1. A student after entering agricultural education must have:

    B. Have completed the equivalent of at least two years (360 hours) of systematic school instruction in Agriculture Education of above the ninth grade level, which includes a supervised agricultural experience program
    Increase B. -- to more than two years instruction (360 hours)
    Increase B. -- to more than two years instruction (360 hours), ONLY if MS FFA is included
    Change B. -- to two years instruction (2 Carnegie units)
    Change B. -- to two years in
    No Change to B.


  1. C. Have earned and productively invested at least $1,000, ...
    Increase C. -- to more than $1,000 productively invested
    Increase C. -- more than $1,000 productively invested, ONLY if MS FFA records included
    No Change to C.


  1. C. "or" worked at least "300 hours" in excess of scheduled class time, or a combination thereof, in a supervised agricultural experience program.
    Increase C. -- to more than 300 hours in an SAE outside of scheduled class time
    Increase -- to more than 300 hours in an SAE outside of scheduled class time, ONLY if MS FFA is included, ONLY if MS FFA is included.
    No Change to C. -- 300 hours


  1. I. Have completed at least 25 hrs. of community service in a minimum of two different activities. All hours must take place outside of regularly scheduled class time.
    Increase C. -- more than 25 hrs.
    Increase C. -- more than 25 hrs., ONLY if MS FFA is included
    No Change


  1. If the student was a MS FFA member, allow MIDDLE SCHOOL FFA SAE records to be included in applying for degrees.
    Yes
    No


  1. If MIDDLE SCHOOL FFA membership SAE records are included...
    Increase -- B. (2 years/360 hours)
    No Change -- B. (2 years/360 hours)





Dale Gruis
Instructor
Collins-Maxwell MS/HS
IA