The State FFA Degree is given to the top members of a State FFA Association.

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 (24 months) at the time of receiving the State FFA Degree
• Have completed at least 2 years (360 hours) of systematic school instruction in agricultural education at our above the ninth grade level, which includes an SAE.
• Have earned and productively invested at least $1,000, or have worked at least 300 hours outside of schedule class time through an SAE.
• 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, certified by the agriculture teacher and the school principal or superintendent.
• 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. All community service hours are cumulative, i.e. the 10 community service hours used to obtain the chapter degree can be used toward the state degree.

The Chapter FFA Degree is given to an FFA chapter’s top members.

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

• Received the Greenhand FFA Degree
• Satisfactorily completed 180 hours (or the equivalent) of systematic school instruction in agricultural education at or above the ninth grade level.
• Have an approved SAE in operation.
• Enrolled in an agriculture course
• Participated in the planning and implementation of at least three official FFA chapter activities.
• Earned and productively invested at least $150, or have worked at least 45 hours outside of scheduled class time, or a combination of the two, through their SAE.?
• Have developed plans for continued growth and improvement of their SAE.
• Effectively lead a group discussion for 15 minutes.
• Demonstrated five parliamentary law procedures.
• Show progress toward achievement in FFA award programs.
• Have a satisfactory academic record.
• Submitted a written application for the Chapter FFA Degree
• Complete a minimum of 10 hours of community service activities

Greenhand FFA Degrees are given out at the chapter level.

To receive a Greenha?nd FFA Degree, members must meet the following requirements:

• Enroll in an agricultural education program and have satisfactory plans for aSupervised Agricultural Experience(SAE).
• Learn and explain the FFA Creed, FFA Mission and Motto, and FFA salute.
• Describe and explain the meaning of the FFA emblem and FFA colors.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the FFA Code of Ethics and the proper use of the FFA jacket.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the history of the organization, the chapter constitution and bylaws and the chapter Program of Activities.
• Own or have access to the Official FFA Manual and the Official FFA Student Handbook.
• Submit a written application for the Greenhand FFA Degree.

Community Service Hours Requirements (live link)

Since 2011, the number of community service hours required to obtain a chapter, state or American FFA degrees have increased.

Community Service Defined

Chapter FFA Degree
To receive a chapter FFA degree, a member must complete 10 hours of community service activities.

The community service hours must be in addition to hours spent on paid or unpaid SAE projects. The hours cannot serve a dual purpose in fulfilling both community service and SAE requirements.

State FFA Degree
To receive a state FFA degree, members must complete at least 25 hours of community service in a minimum of two different activities.

The community service hours must be in addition to hours spent on paid or unpaid SAE projects. The hours cannot serve a dual purpose in fulfilling both community service and SAE requirements.

American FFA Degree Requirements
To receive an American FFA degree, members must complete at least 50 hoursof community service in a minimum of three different activities.

The community service hours must be in addition to hours spent on paid or unpaid SAE projects.  The hours cannot serve a dual purpose in fulfilling both community service and SAE requirements. These hours also may not be duplicated to fulfill the Directed Lab requirement. All hours must take place outside of regularly scheduled class time.

The community service section is on page 12 of the American FFA Degree application. If you have already completed an older version of the application, you can download page 12 of the application and replace that page with the new page.

Community Service Hours Requirement FAQs

Are the American FFA degree community service hours cumulative?
Yes.

For example, you can add the 10 hours earned while obtaining your chapter degree to the 15 hours earned while obtaining your state degree. You can then add those 25 hours and an additional 25 hours to reach the 50 hours required for your American FFA Degree.

10 chapter degree hours + 15 additional hours = 25 state degree hours
25 state degree hours + 25 additional hours = 50 American degree hours

What types of activities count as "Community Service?"
Defining Community Service:
Community service engages students in the educational process, allowing them to use practices they learn in the classroom to make a difference in real life. Students not only learn about democracy and citizenship, they become actively contributing citizens and community members through the service they perform.

Use this definition as a guide to determine if a given activity meets the community service requirements. An activity must meet all of the following criteria in order to be approved as community service:

1. The activity has tangible community involvement.
2. Students have an opportunity to gain skills and competencies or apply skills and competencies learned in the classroom setting.
3. The activity has a demonstrated positive impact on the community, or individuals who live and work in the community.
4. The student gives of his/her time, energy or knowledge through activities focused on helping others, improving community resources or improving community infrastructure.
5. The community service activity can be organized by the FFA chapter; however, it must be performed outside of classroom time.
6. Activities listed as community service cannot be duplicated in the FFA activities section of the application. Student may only list the activity in one section of the application.

When using this definition, consider this example:

Participating on a school athletic team is a school related activity, but it is not community service.  Volunteering as a Little League, Pop Warner Football or soccer team coach would be acceptable.

The American Degree application states a community service must be a non-FFA activity.  Keep in mind it can be organized by the FFA chapter, but must be conducted outside of classroom hours.

Requirement:
Chapter Degree:          10 community service hours
State Degree:               25 community service hours 
                                     (a minimum of 2 different activities)
National Degree:          50 community service hours 
                                     (a minimum of 3 different activities)

These hours can be cumulative. State Degree needs 15 more community service hours than the chapter degree and the American degree needs 25 more community service hours.??