Tyrone FFA members receive Keystone Degrees and official jacket

Three seniors win FFA’s highest award and a TAHS freshman becomes 3rd generation FFA member to receive jacket

By Carly Crofcheck, Social Media Director|January 20, 2015

Tiffany Hoy
Seniors Kaitland Lynch, Heidi Walls, and Shaye Loose

Tyrone seniors Kaitland Lynch, Heidi Walls and FFA Vice President Shaye Loose and 369 other FFA members were awarded the Keystone Degree at the 86th Mid-Winter FFA Convention held at the 99th PA Farm Show in Harrisburg.

This award is the highest FFA honor that can be earned at the state level.

“The Keystone is a big accomplishment,” said Lynch, “There was a lot of work to put into getting the degree. I was glad to have received it.”

“I am honored to have gotten it,” said Loose, “I was extremely excited!”

“It took a lot of hard work and all of that hard work paid off and I feel really accomplished,” said Walls.

To receive a State FFA Degree, members must meet the following requirements:

  • Received a Chapter FFA Degree.
  • Have been an active FFA member for at least two years.
  • Have completed at least 2 years (360 hours) of systematic school instruction in agricultural education
  • Have earned and productively invested at least $1,000, or have worked at least 300 hours outside of schedule class time.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Lynch’s online SAE was in the area of Food Service, Loose in Ag Production, and Walls in Dairy Beef Entrepreneurship and Food Service.  All three are working towards their American FFA Degree and hope to obtain the highest National FFA Degree within the next three years.

FFA Jacket Presented

Tyrone freshman David Conrad received his FFA Jacket at the Mid-Winter Convention on Monday, January 12, 2015 at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.  550 first year FFA members from across the State received a jacket from the PA FFA Alumni Association.

Conrad is following in his grandfather’s, father’s and sibling’s footsteps in wearing the iconic blue corduroy FFA Jacket.

“I was excited to have received my jacket. It means a lot to me and my family.” said Conrad.

The FFA provides students with leadership development opportunities through classroom instruction, career development contests – including livestock evaluation and parliamentary procedure – and real world agricultural career placement.