Lipp to receive American FFA Degree at convention

The American FFA Degree is the highest honor awarded to an FFA member because it takes countless time and effort to achieve, and receiving this award means one has demonstrated the highest level of prioritizing FFA. 

The requirements to earn this award are extensive to ensure that the best FFA members are awarded the honor. Those honored must have been a member for three years and completed 540 hours of high school agricultural classes. 

LaKacee Lipp, a member of the Newcastle Saddle and Sirloin FFA Chapter, will be receiving this award in November at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Lipp will receive her award on Saturday Nov. 4. 

The process was very long for Lipp and her team, which included her parents, Phil and Kristi Lipp, along with the chapter adviser Jill Pischke. Lipp talks about the lengthy process she had to complete to apply for this award. Her biggest project was working on AT Tracker. This included journaling hours and descriptions of her Supervised Agricultural Experience, ensuring that she would check off the SAE hour requirements for the award. 

Just like the work to achieve any other award in the FFA organization, she had to answer questions, gather letters of recommendation, get approval from multiple people, and take pictures of her work. 

This award means a lot to the chapter, especially because it is awarded at a national level, and that makes the achievement even sweeter to Lipp. 

“To me, to receive this is a great honor. I didn’t know if I was going to apply for it, nor did I know if I was going to have time for it. I was unsure if I met the requirements, but with the help of Jill and my parents, I am beyond excited,” she said. “Attending nationals for a second time is always such a good experience. But it will be even better being able to be a part of the few percent to receive this award, and then bring it home to the chapter, because that hasn’t happened for a while.”  

Lipp is now working on receiving her ag business degree in Powell, and said she believes that receiving this award will better her future in many ways. She believes that when it comes time to fill out applications for jobs and anything else, having this award through such an amazing organization will give her a step up against others. She believes that this organization is one of the best to be a part of because of all the success and knowledge she has gained. 

Jill Pischke, the FFA adviser for the Saddle and Sirloin Chapter, has been one of Lipp’s biggest supporters. Pischke and Lipp’s parents have worked and pushed Lipp to do her best in working toward the award, and for that Lipp said she is very thankful. 

“LaKacee is the first student of mine to apply for and receive the highest degree in the FFA Association. LaKacee has worked very hard to achieve this goal by dedicating much of her time over the last five years to her SAE projects, serving in multiple leadership roles within the chapter, and volunteered countless hours to community service and chapter activities, all while maintaining an outstanding scholastic record. I am very proud of LaKacee and all she has achieved in the FFA,” Pischke said, “and I certainly appreciate the role model she continues to be for younger FFA members. I and her fellow chapter members cannot wait to watch her take the stage as she receives her American degree so we can cheer her on and celebrate her achievement!”