GMG senior Jay Bru, right, smiles while receiving his Iowa FFA Degree on April 15 on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames during the 97th Annual Iowa FFA Leadership Conference. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

AMES – Two members of the Green Mountain-Garwin FFA Chapter – Jay Bru and Jacob Cornwell – were awarded the coveted Iowa FFA Degree at the 97th Annual Iowa FFA Leadership Conference in Ames held on April 15. The Iowa FFA Degree is the highest degree conferred on student members by the Iowa FFA Association.

FFA members who qualify have met minimum involvement requirements in all

components of the three-circle model: Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), FFA, and the Classroom/Laboratory. The Iowa FFA Degree is earned by less than 5% of FFA members statewide. Among other qualifications, the applicant must: have received the Chapter FFA Degree; have satisfactorily completed the equivalent of at least two years (360 hours) of systematic agriculture classroom instruction; and have a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program that earned and invested a combination of dollars and hours that are the equivalent value of $1,500 and/or 375 hours in excess of scheduled class time.

Jay Bru

Jay Bru, son of Ryan and Laura Bru of rural Gladbrook, is one of our chapter recipients. Bru’s SAE program consisted of working for Beck’s Hybrids where he started in corn detasseling and moved his way up to a management position in his last summer there. In this position he was in charge of a team of detasselers and reported to management as to what his team accomplished from day to day. Bru gained many important agronomy and people management skills from his experience. He will be graduating this month and attending DMACC in Ankeny to study Agriculture Business before he returns home to become a part of his family farming operation one day.

GMG senior Jacob Cornwell, right, smiles while receiving his Iowa FFA Degree on April 15 on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames during the 97th Annual Iowa FFA Leadership Conference. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Jacob Cornwell

Our second candidate is Jacob Cornwell, son of Patrick and Deb Cornwell of rural Garwin. Cornwell has been involved in his family’s farming operation for several years. His SAE program consisted of working for his uncle on the farm that his grandparents originally established. He had been able to assist with planting and harvesting on the operation and has gained many skills from working with his uncle on the operation including agronomy skills, ag mechanic skills, and the general running and upkeep of a farm. Cornwell will be attending MCC in the fall following his graduation in May, to study business.

Both students have been exemplary members of the GMG FFA chapter. Although we will miss them next year, we look forward to seeing where their future leads them.

Congratulations and good luck, Jay and Jacob, your FFA chapter is proud of your accomplishments.