In rural areas like the Castle Country Area, the National FFA Organization Program plays a pivotal role in the lives of many students. Young farmers yearn to wear the national blue and corn gold jacket associated with the group and older generations look fondly on their time with the group.
To some, however, the FFA holds a lifelong goal: The American Degree. In Emery County, this goal was realized by Deri Thatcher, who on Oct. 26 during the National FFA Convention, was presented the honor in front of a packed Lucas Oil Stadium.
Castle Country Radio was joined by Thatcher to discuss the achievement and what it meant to her, as well as the role the FFA has played in her life.
The conversation started by looking back, asking Thatcher to walk us through what she had to do to earn the coveted degree. “So, earning this award, I’ve kind of been set up for it my whole life while living on a farm. I joined the FFA when I was a freshman in high school, and I’ve been working for four years to earn this degree … it took a long time to get it, but I think it’s pretty good.”
To earn this award, members must devote countless hours and dollars to their craft, this is explained in a press release by the FFA,” To be eligible, FFA members must have earned at least $10,000 or earned at least $2,000 and worked at least 2,250 hrs. outside of class time through a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program in which they own their own business,
hold a professional position as an employee, or conduct research. Recipients must also complete 50 hours of community service and demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and civic involvement through the completion of a long list of FFA and community activities. Less than one percent of FFA members achieve the American FFA Degree.”
We then asked Thatcher what challenges she had to overcome throughout earning this degree. “So, for me to get my degree, I raised goats, and it was really difficult. I hated night checks. We raised our goats, and we would have to wake up like every two hours in the middle of the night to make sure everything was alive, everything was OK, and that was the worst part for me because I value my sleep.”
Next, we had Thatcher recount the moments leading up to her receiving the degree and what emotions she experienced,” It was terrifying. So, they had, I think, 5,000 members that received theirs this year in the nation, but also that was only 1%. So, only 1% of FFA members get their American degree, so it’s cool to be part of that, but it was super intense.”
Thatcher also explained the impact that the FFA has had on her personal life,” I have been a huge member of FFA. I had a 1999 Chevy Prism, and this car, we called it the FFA car because me and my aunt one day, before the homecoming parade, we spray painted this car blue and gold, and then we put huge FFA stickers all over it, and I drove that thing throughout high school. The funny story about this car is I blew the clutch going 90 miles an hour on my way to an FFA thing, and my dad was really mad, but it was super fun.” Thatcher continued,” FFA has had a huge impact on my life. I was an FFA officer about every year that I was able to be an FFA officer, and I took it by the horns, and I just went for it, everything I could do.”
Closing out our conversation, Thatcher spoke to the next generation of FFA members, providing words of encouragement,” No matter who you are, you can join. It’s not just about animals and livestock. There is probably something for you. If you like flowers, we have a floral culture. If flowers aren’t your thing, we have trees … I would just encourage everyone to either support the FFA program or look into it and see if you would be interested in joining it because I definitely would recommend it.”