The Georgia FFA recently awarded the Alcovy High School FFA program the Silver Emblem in the National Chapter Award program

“We are so proud of our FFA students and teachers,” said Dave Easterday, principal of AHS. “They have worked very hard to build our FFA program and their hard work has paid off.”

According to Ben Lastly, Executive Secretary of the Georgia FFA Association, the Georgia FFA is made up of approximately 260 chapters. Any chartered FFA chapter can apply for the National Chapter Award program and states are allowed to select up to 10 percent of their chartered chapters as Gold Emblem. Those not earning Gold status are eligible for Silver and Bronze status. Twenty-six Georgia FFA programs earned Gold status and only 31 FFA programs statewide earned the silver designation. Five programs earned the Bronze emblem award.

Lastly noted that “the line between Gold and Silver was narrow,” this year.

“This award represents the hard work and dedication of the FFA members, advisors and school officials,” said James Woodard, NCSS Director of Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE). “Alcovy FFA provides an array of opportunities to engage students in meaningful activities beyond the regular school day.”

According to information on the National FFA Web site, www.ffa.org, the “National Chapter Award program is designed to award FFA chapters who actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. Based on a chapter’s Program of Activities (POA) local FFA chapters are recognized for working in established areas called ‘quality standards.’ These standards are organized into three divisions: Student development, Chapter development and Community development.

In order to be considered, FFA chapters must summarize their participation and success in nine activities throughout their year. They must select three activities in each of the three “quality standards” areas and outline their goals/objectives, state their plan of action and summarize the results earned.

“I am very proud of our kids this year,” said Ben Brand, AHS FFA advisor. “It was the FFA officer team who planned this year’s Program of Activities and completed the application. It makes the award mean more when the students strive to make it successful. Our chapter plans each year’s POA at our Chapter Officer Leadership Conference on Blueridge, Georgia.”

“The National Chapter Award program is used to recognize the local FFA chapters for their success in a variety of areas,” said Lastly. “A balanced FFA chapter works to develop each student, the collective chapter and the community where they live. The application process is time consuming, and those who participate are deserving of their recognition. The quality of applications in Georgia is strong. We have many that are worthy of a Gold Emblem ranking, but we’re only allowed to give 26.”