From the current Kansas State FFA Manual:
"The State FFA Degree is the highest degree that the State FFA Association can bestow on a member. This degree is award annually at the State FFA Convention to those members who have met the minimum qualifications set forth by the Kansas FFA Association and National FFA Organization.
"The golden charm of the State FFA Degree is the symbol of growth and development in the members chosen occupation.
"The Constitution of the Kansas Association establishes minimum qualifications for election to the State FFA Degree:
- Must have held the Chapter FFA Degree preceding election to the State FFA Degree, have been an active member of the FFA for at least two years and have maintained and completed two consecutive calendar years of record books.
- Have completed the equivalent or at least two years of systematic school instruction in agricultural education at or above the ninth grade level, which includes a supervised agricultural experience program; if in high school, must be enrolled in an agriculture education course.
- Receive instruction in and demonstrate proficiency in at least ten parliamentary procedure motions, documented and signed by the chapter advisor and submitted with the application.
- Demonstrate leadership ability by giving at least a six-minute oral presentation or speech on a topic relating to agriculture or the FFA, and serving as an officer and/or committee chairperson or a participating member of a major committee.
- Have earned and productively invested at least $2,000 by his or her own efforts from a supervised agricultural experience program, or have worked (other than scheduled class time) at least 600 hours.
- Demonstrate leadership ability as evidenced by their leadership and cooperation in student, chapter, and community activities, and meet academic outcomes with an average of a “C” or better
- Have participated in at least eight different kinds of activities above the chapter level, determined by a compiled checklist developed by each district and formulated by the state degree committee.
- Have participated in at least 25 hours of community service, within at least two different community service activities. These hours are in addition to and cannot be duplicated as paid or unpaid SAE hours.
1940-1959
1941 - Walter May
1947 - Duane Waldo, Keith Mines
1948 - Ray Wilcox
1949 - Merlin Anderson
1952 - (pictured) Earnest Huff, Aard Erickson, A. Carroll Chambers, Arnold Morton
1954 - Alvin Johnson, Waldo Anderson
1956 - Duane Unger, Lemoin Rush, Jerry Macfee
1957 - Vryl Rush
1959 - Norman Richards, Roy Unger, Norbert Zander, Woody Morford, Bill Machart, Charles Kelley, and James Carver
(Below are the 1959 Officers [State Farmers =*]) Woody Morford*, Adviser Lloyd Moody, Bill DeMay, Bill Machart*, Norbert Zander*, Norman RIchards*, and Charles Kelley*).
From the 1959 yearbook: "In the history of the Kansas FFA Chapters, Oberlin is the only one to have seven State Farmers in one year."
1960- 1969
1961 - Elvin Beneda
1962 - Ralph Unger, Bob DeMay
1964 - Gene Morford
1965 - (pictured) Richard Chambers, Dan Fiala, Gary Richards
1967 - Voyle Vernon, John Brown, John Bastin
1968 - Merald Van Vleet, Charles Hessenflow, Gerald Beneda
1969 - Fred Wessel, Steven Noren, Dan Lippelmann, Rick Fiala
(Below are the 1969 Officers [State Farmers =*])
Back row: Treasurer Dan Lippelmann*; Reporter Fred Wessel*; Sentinel Mike Pollnow; front row: Vice president Marvin May; President Rick Fiala*; Secretary Steve Noren*.
1970 - 1979
1970 - Phil Wurm, Steve Schissler, Bill Anderson
1971 - George Wessel, Terry Lippelmann, Dennis Anderson
1972 - Dwayne Jackson, Rodney Bryan, Craig Larson
1973 - (pictured) Brad Marcuson, Donald Fowler
1974 - Robert May, Robert Hessenflow
1975 - Mark Olson
1979 - Eldon Huff
(Below are the 1970 Officers [State Farmers =*])
Dan Uehlin, Sentinel; Phil Wurm, Reporter*; Steve Schissler, Vice President*; Steve Noren, President*; Mike Pollnow, Secretary; Ron Fowler, Treasurer; Bill Anderson, Student Advisor*.
1980 - 1989
1980 - Dave Huff
1984 - Roger May
1985 - Mary Wilson (pictured). Mary was also the 1986 Kansas State FFA President.
1987 - Kayla Unger, Marlene Tally
1988 - Larry Dempewolf
1989 - Galen Wentz, Kurt Bennett
Pictured are the 1988 Officers: (*=State Farmer) Adviser Lowell Ely, Kurt Bennett*, Greg Unger, Kayla Unger*, Darren Horn, Kristy Unger, Stan McEvoy.
The "American FFA Degree" is the highest honor awarded to a member, signifying their exceptional commitment to the organization and outstanding achievements in their supervised agricultural experience; it represents the highest level of FFA membership attainable.
To be eligible to receive the American FFA Degree from the National FFA Organization, members must meet the following minimum qualifications:
- 1. Have received the State FFA Degree
- 2. Have satisfactorily completed the equivalent of at least three years of systematic secondary school instruction in an agricultural education program and one full year of enrollment in a postsecondary agricultural program, or have completed the program of agricultural education offered in the secondary school last attended.
- 3. Have graduated from high school at least 12 months prior to the national convention at which the degree is to be granted.
- 4. Have in operation and have maintained records to substantiate an outstanding supervised agricultural experience program, through which the member has exhibited comprehensive planning and managerial and financial expertise.
- 5. A student after entering agricultural education must earn at least $10,000 and productively invested $7,500 or earned and productively invested $2,000 and worked 2,250 hours in excess of scheduled class time.
- 6. Have a record of outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement and have achieved a high school scholastic record of “C” or better
- 7. Have participated in at least 50 hours of community service within at least three different community service activities.
1955 - Waldo Anderson (pictured)
1957 - Duane Unger
1969 - Richard Chambers
1970 - John Bastin
1994 - Torrey Morford
1996 - Milo Lippelmann
From the Oberlin Herald (Sept. 1, 1955)
"Waldo Anderson, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell (Dutch) Anderson of Traer has been recommended for the American Farmer honorary group of the Future Farmers of America. Waldo, now a sophomore at Kansas University, graduated from DCHS in 1954.
"The American Farmer awards are given annually to a select group of young farmers who have previously been honored as FFA State Farmers.
"Anderson's confirmation as an American Farmer - ordinarily a routine - must be made at the National FFA Convention to be held in Kansas City, Mo., October 10-14 by the National House of Delegates. He has previously been recommended by the National Board of Student Officers and approved by the National Board of Directors.
"When confirmed, Anderson will be Decatur County's first American Farmer."
From the Oberlin Herald (Aug. 27, 1957)
"Duane Unger, 18, will become Decatur County's second Future Farmer to receive the FFA's highest degree - that of American Farmer.
"Unger will receive his award at the 30th annual National Convention of FFA in Kansas City, Oct. 14-17.
"The son of Mr. and Mrs. Tony Unger, Oberlin, Duane is one of seven young Kansans to be nominated for the American Farmer degree.
"A member of the Oberlin FFA chapter, Duane graduated from DCHS in 1956 and will be a sophomore at Kansas State.
"State Associations of FFA are limited to one American Farmer Degree candidate f9or each 1,000 members. Kansas, with FFA membership of 7,260, submitted the names of seven candidates all o whom were approved.
"Unger started out in agriculture with a purchase of 100 baby chicks in 1951. In 1953, he increased the size of his poultry flock, bought a steer and a bred gilt and also rented a small plot of ground from his father. Duane has expanded the program gradually until he now farms 250 acres, and during the past year owned 30 beef cattle, 300 hens, and 120 hogs."
From the Oberlin Herald (Sept. 4, 1969)
"Richard Chambers of Oberlin is one of seven Kansas Future Farmers who will be recommended to receive the FFA's highest degree, that of American Farmer at the organization's national convention in Kansas City, Oct. 14-17.
"According to C. C. Eustace, state supervisor of agricultural education, the national FFA officers and directors have reviewed all seven Kansas applications for the degree and will recommend that they be accepted by convention delegates. Such recommendations are virtually always accepted.
"Attainment of the American Farmer degree is based on the farmer's record in agriculture, leadership, and scholarship. The degree is limited to FFA members who have been out of high school at least one year and who are showing evidence of becoming successfully established in an agricultural occupation.
"The degree is limited so that only approximately one FFA member in 1,000 may receive it in any single year.
"Chambers, who graduated from DCHS in 1967, farms in the Lyle area. While attending DCHS, he received the three FFA degrees which precede the top one - greenhand, chapter farmer, and state farmer. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Chambers of Lebanon, Neb.
"Don Guinn, adviser of the DCHS chapter of FFA, said the local chapter will send a delegation to the convention in Kansas City."
From the Oberlin Herald (Oct. 22, 1970)
John Bastin was one of seven Kansas FFA members who were awarded the American Farmer Degree at the National FFA Convention in Kansas City.
John, 20, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Cleo Bastin, Cook Township. He is a senior at Kansas State University, majoring in biology.
"The award included a certificate, an engraved gold lapel pin, and a check for $75."
Below - John Bastin receives his American Farmer Degree at the National FFA Convention.
Gary Ritter, a graduate of Norcatur High School, was also awarded the American Farmer Degree in 1970. He was a junior at Fort Hays State University, majoring in agriculture. He is Norcatur's only American Farmer Degree recipient.
Norcatur High had 13 State Farmers:
Gary Miller - 1952
Robert Strevey - 1960
Kenneth Jackson - 1962
David Cozad - 1963
Gary Ritter - 1968
John Mapes - 1968
Stephen Miller - 1968
Bob Price - 1969
Gene Carter - 1969
Barry Brooks - 1969
Leslie Ward - 1970
Michael Miller - 1970
Francis Hillebrand -1970
From the Oberlin Herald (Nov. 30, 1994) - article by Melissa Miller
Between 35,000 and 38,000 FFA members attended the FFA Convention held in Kansas City Nov. 10-12.
"While at the convention, the Oberlin FFA members also attended a special luncheon that honored Decatur Community High School alumni FFA member, Torrey Morford. Torrey received his American FFA degree, a very prestigious award.
"Torrey earned his degree by keeping his record book, that he started in high school, up-to-date and organized.
"FFA Sponsor Mike Wetter said, 'The sessions [at the convention] were inspiring. The highlight for me was Torrey's achievement. We haven't had a recipient of this award for many years.'
"Members attending convention were Lonnie Morford, Milo Lippelmann, Rye Lippelmann, Michelle Stoney, Tammy Gutchewsky, and Brady Richards."
From the Oberlin Herald (Dec. 4, 1996) - article by Sarah Stanley
"Oberlin FFA members got to watch one of their own receive the highest honor bestowed by the association.
"Milo Lippelmann, a 1995 graduate, received the American Farmer Degree during the FFA National Convention in Kansas City. Rye Lippelmann, Matt Gawith, Eric Voss, Troy Wentz, Kristin Groneweg, and Lynette Morford also attended the convention.
"'It was nice that he finally got this award,' said Milo's brother Rye. 'He has been working on it for two years.'"
"'I was impressed and proud," said Michael Stull, Oberlin FFA adviser. 'It takes time and desire to achieve at such a high level.'"
"To get the national award, Milo had to receive the State FFA Degree, keep three years of records, and earn a certain amount of money from each of the programs."
From the Oberlin Herald - Nov. 20, 1986
"Phil Kirk of Clayton, left, receives congratulations from Rick Malir, national president of Future Farmers of America, on his achievement of the American Farmer degree, awarded in ceremonies at the 59th national FFA convention in Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 13-15. A 1985 graduate of Prairie Heights High School, Jennings, Kirk is a sophomore at K-Sate. He is the son of Bill and Stevie Kirk, Clayton."
Donna Guinn - 1969
From the Oberlin Herald -
"Donna Guinn, a senior at DCHS, was crowned Kansas FFA Sweetheart at the State Fair in Hutchinson Sept. 16. Miss Guinn was one of seven girls entered in the contest, each representing a different district." Miss Guinn was first crowned the DCHS FFA Sweetheart and then won the Northwest Kansas district title. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don Guinn. Mr. Guinn is Oberlin's FFA adviser.
"The seven girls each had an interview for 10 minutes with three judges. Categories the candidates were judged on include poise, personality, beauty, activities and scholarship with poise being the most important.
"Prospective activities of the newly crowned sweetheart will be radio and television appearances during FFA Week, attendance at the FFA State Convention at Kansas State University, and a visit to the Kansas legislature while in session.
"This was the third annual Kansas FFA Sweetheart contest, and the first year the candidate from the Northwest District has won."
