SWENSON RECEIVED AMERICAN FFA DEGREE

By Crystal Reith Seanna Swenson, a 2023 Murray County Central alum, received the American FFA Degree at the 79th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. The American FFA Degree is the highest degree achievable in the National FFA Organization.

“Less than one percent of FFA members earn the American FFA degree,” said Swenson, who was among the 4,805 recipients at this year’s convention.

The degree recognizes FFA members that demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities, community involvement and achievement in their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), which is a student-led, instructor-supervised, workbased learning experience that results in measurable outcomes.

“The process of receiving the American FFA Degree does not happen overnight,” said Swenson. “This is a long-lasting degree that takes many years of high school and time even after high school.”

To receive the American FFA Degree, a FFA member must have received the State FFA Degree, been active for the past three years, completed at least three years of secondary school instruction in agricultural education or completed all of the education offered in the school last attended, graduated from high school at least 12 months prior to the national convention where the degree would be presented, have records that detail an outstanding SAE that includes comprehensive planning, continuation and growth and earned at least $10,000 and productively invested $7,500, have a superior record of leadership ability and community involvement, have a grade point average of a “C” or better and participated in at least 50 hours of community service with at least three different activities. Swenson started her own Holstein cross herd for her SAE and used the documentation to apply for her American FFA Degree.

“My father helped me get started and then I progressed from there. He has really helped me to love agriculture at a young age, just like he did,” said Swenson, daughter of Chad and Ronda. “My mom has always been someone that understands the agriculture life and is always right there physically or mentally to help.”

In addition to her work with the cattle, she also worked with the crop farming side of the operation.

“The crops that we raise are very important to feed our livestock and to feed America,” said Swenson. “Whether it is my dad and I working besides each other in the fields operating all sorts of equipment, researching or learning something new from someone, or learning some financials, I am always there on the crops side of things as well. I am so thankful for not only my family’s support and encouragement over the years, but also the people in the community.”

While pursuing her goal of receiving the American FFA Degree, Swenson relied heavily on MCC agriculture teachers and FFA advisors, Mr. Biren and Mr. Haberman.

“They have always believed in me, listened and executed my ideas in some way, understood my perspective as they both have many years of experience in agriculture, and truly cared about me as a person and my future,” said Swenson, who served as chapter president her senior year.

While Swenson served as an officer in the MCC FFA chapter, she was in charge of organizing and executing activities and fundraisers. She also participated in general livestock, milk quality and dairy evaluation for Career Development Events.

“I have received all five degrees that FFA members can obtain during active membership,” said Swenson. “At the banquet my senior year, I received the Outstanding FFA Member scholarship and the MCC FFA Ag Boosters Agriculture scholarship.”

After high school, Swenson remained passionate about agriculture and the FFA program, so she felt compelled to obtain her American FFA Degree.

“FFA has and always will have a huge impact on my life in agriculture,” said Swenson, who was one of 89 FFA members from Minnesota to receive the gold American FFA Degree key. “I believe it is only right to finish what I have started and put my heart into it.”

Although Swenson met the qualifications and had support from many, she encountered some challenges while incorporating her SAE into her American FFA Degree paperwork and admitted that she questioned if the process was worth it.

“In the end, I learned that it takes hard work and long hours to accomplish something,” said Swenson, a second-year student majoring in agriculture business with a precision farming certificate at Ridgewater College in Willmar. “It has been a while since someone has obtained their American Degree from MCC so I felt proud to represent the strong agriculture community.”

Swenson is passionate about helping others succeed in the agricultural industry and encourages everyone to give FFA a try.

“I encourage FFA members to get involved as much as possible. It helps with leadership and public speaking skills and can open doors to new skills that not even yourself knows existed until it is tried,” said Swenson.

“Most importantly, follow your heart.”