Each year, the Blue Ridge FFA chapter presents a Star Discovery award in recognition of an individual who have gone above and beyond with FFA participation. This is only awarded to an 8th grader who has earned the Discovery Degree and was active with Blue Ridge FFA.

The Star Greenhand award recognizes a first year High School FFA member who has gone above and beyond with FFA participation.

The Star awards of Star Farmer, Star Agribusiness, Star Ag Placement, and Star Agriscience focus on the SAE program of an individual member as it is an integral part of Ag Education. Our chapter awards these to members who have earned their Chapter Degree and have continued competing with their SAE into their Junior and Senior Year.

Scholarship is one of the goals of all members. Students have to have at least a 3.0 grade point average while they have been in high school in order to be recognized. The top GPA of each class is recognized with a medallion.

Leadership is a major part of the FFA. During the 2019-2020 school year our officers presented a motion to our membership to have the leadership award not include officers as we already should be leaders in the organization. The motion passed and we are excited to present our Leadership award to our most active members. Over the course of the year students participate in several career development events, leadership development events, conventions, conferences, workshops, fundraisers, and chapter events. For each activity they participate in they are awarded points that correspond with the different events. This allows us to determine students who have gone above and beyond.

This award is based on points the members receive throughout the year. We calculate points from April 1st of the prior year through March 31st of the current year. This allows us time to order awards for the banquet. Students earn points by attending meetings, competing in CDEs/LDEs, attending other chapter/section/state/national events such as conferences, conventions, workshops, etc.

The Blue and Gold Award is an award not always given to the person who has done the most over the course of the year, has the strongest SAE, or is even an officer. It is given to an individual who stands out as being a strong leader in the FFA, someone who helps out without being asked, or is the first person to volunteer when the opportunity arises. It is given to a person who exemplifies the FFA Motto: Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve, and should be something all FFA members strive to achieve.

Given annually to one (1) student from each chapter in McLean County (Blue Ridge has students who live in McLean County which is why we have this award- you do not have to live in McLean County to receive).

Criteria:

• Student to be recognized is one who serves the FFA Chapter. They are the one in the trenches, always the first to arrive and the last to leave, volunteers to do all the dirty work, etc.

• Can be freshman, sophomore, junior or senior

• Hardworking and dependable

• Exemplifies service and commitment to the chapter by volunteering at several chapter functions.

The Gene L Elliott Scholarship is given each year to a senior student that has been actively involved in FFA for at least 3 years, has been enrolled in Agriculture classes 2 out of the past 3 years, and has been in good academic standing while being a student at Blue Ridge High School. The scholarship is based on leadership, scholastic achievement, and community service. Gene Elliott was the agriculture instructor at Moore High School of Farmer City- Mansfield, and Blue Ridge from 1954-1986. The Blue Ridge Advisory council formed the scholarship in 1986. Money was raised and the scholarship itself is given based on the interest gained from 1986. The scholarship money will be officially given to the student next year after they have successfully completed their first year of junior college/college.

Sponsored by Bayer, the DeKalb Award recognizes and promotes scholarship, leadership, and agricultural work experience.

This is awarded to a 4-year senior member as a culmination of FFA accomplishments. The selection considers the member’s total FFA experience.

Fundraising is one way the chapter members give back to the chapter and helps with keeping costs to conventions, conferences, CDEs, LDEs, and other events we attend low for the members. This award recognizes the top salesman in the fall and spring for each fundraiser.

Career Development Events, or CDEs, are the contests FFA members attend to test their knowledge in a wide range of areas within the Agriculture Industry students compete as a team but are also given an individual score as well. These events allow students to get a glimpse of the several careers within the Agriculture Industry.

Leadership Development Events, or LDEs, focus on increasing a student’s ability to be a leader. These are typically whole team or individual events.

At banquet we recognize all contest participants and the top member of each event.

Recognize students earning the Greenhand, Chapter, State, and American Degrees.

Click the photo to learn more about the FFA Degrees.

All Ag students keep a record book and FFA members have an SAE that falls under a Proficiency Area. Proficiency Awards are earned by a Freshman who has completed at least one semester of record books and FFA, or a Sophomore, Junior, or Senior FFA member that has completed one year of record books and FFA and 8th grade Discovery members if they complete an application in one of the 4 Star Areas. These awards are based on the members’ SAE projects and an interview at the Section, District, and State Level.