Buysse earns American FFA Degree

Justin Buysse capped off his FFA membership in grand fashion, earning the coveted American Degree at the National FFA Convention and Expo on Nov. 2 in Indianapolis.
"It's a pretty big honor and one I have worked hard for," said the Minneota native. "It's my last step in FFA membership, although I hope to be an FFA advisor someday."
Only one percent of FFA members earn the American Degree; the highest degree achievable in the National FFA Organization.
The American FFA Degree honors a member's dedication to his or her chapter and state FFA association. It demonstrates the effort that FFA members apply toward their supervised agricultural experience and the outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement they exhibited throughout their FFA career.
Buysse and 83 others from Minnesota were recognized for earning the American FFA Degree at the nationals. Recipients show promise for the future and have gone above and beyond to achieve excellence.
"I was told by email in August that I would be receiving the degree," said Buysse, 20, a junior in the Ag Education program at Southwest Minnesota State University.
Buysse made the trip to Indianapolis with two fellow SMSU classmates who also earned the American FFA Degree.
"We worked a SMSU Career Fair booth when we were at nationals, too," Buysse noted.
According to the National FFA Constitution, members must meet certain qualifications such as receiving a State FFA Degree, holding active membership for the past three years, completing secondary instruction in an agricultural education program, and operating an outstanding supervised agricultural experience program to be eligible for the Degree.
Community service, leadership abilities, and outstanding scholastic achievement are also required.
Buysse, the son of Curtis and Caren Buysse, has been an FFA member since seventh grade at Minneota.
"I've had my eye on getting this American Degree for a while now," said Buysse, who earned his State FFA Degree as a senior in high school.
Buysse grew up on his parents' farm three miles north of Minneota, where they raise beef cattle, custom-fed pigs and some grain.
"As part of the requirement to earn the American Degree, I worked on beef production with my grandpa and then my dad," Buysse explained.
"And you have to keep records for all the projects you do."
Applications for the American FFA Degree are submitted to the National FFA Organization following approval of a member's state association. The national staff first reviews the application and the National FFA Board of Directors approve qualified candidates to receive the degree.
Recipients receive a certificate and the American FFA Degree key in honor of their accomplishments and dedication to FFA.
“After I graduate in two years, I would like to be an Ag instructor and also an Industrial Arts instructor," Buysse said.