Union FFAers earn American FFA Degree

INDIANAPOLIS — Seven members of the Union FFA Chapter have earned the American FFA Degree.

Anthony George, AJ Clark, Megan Tanaka, Jadon Herron, Shelbi Williams, Scott Kausler and Corey Bennett were notified by the National FFA Organization that they will receive the highest National FFA Organization degree during a ceremony Oct. 24 at the 82nd National FFA Convention in Indianapolis.

Earning the degree means they are a select group of individuals to be recognized for years of academic and professional excellence. The American FFA Degree recognizes demonstrated leadership ability and outstanding achievements in agricultural business, production, processing or service programs.

Each award recipient receives a gold American FFA Degree key and certificate in a blue leatherette frame. Of 507,763 FFA members nationwide, these students were seven of only 3,299 and only 55 in Oregon to be recognized in 2009. Fewer than one in 200 FFA members advance through their local chapter and state FFA degree programs to earn this national degree. The Union Chapter was chartered in 1929, and these seven members are among the 36 members who have achieved this award in the past 80 years.

To have seven members attain this award in the same year is an outstanding accomplishment.

Anthony George is the son of Cecil and Jodi George of Union. He is working for Albertsons and studying for a degree in nursing at EOU.

AJ Clark is the son of Jamie Carlson of Klamath Falls and Dennis Clark of Union. He works for a custom harvest operation and plans to attend Linn-Benton Community College this fall.

Megan Tanaka, daughter of John and Ann Tanaka of Cove, is studying pre-law at OSU and works for attorney Wes Williams and a student motivational company in California.

Jadon Herron is the son of Patty and Wayne Herron of Union and is studying engineering at EOU and fighting forest fires for the summer.

Shelbi Williams, the daughter of Becky Williams and Greg Williams of Union, is studying radiology at Lewis and Clark College in Lewiston and working at Grande Ronde Hospital this summer.

Scott Kausler is the son of Cherie and Bob Kausler of Union and is studying computer science at EOU and working for the Forest Service this summer.

Corey Bennett is the son of Melissa and Shane Bennett of Union. He is studying pharmacology at EOU and working at the Union Drug Store this summer.

The degree recognition program is sponsored by Case IH, The Farm Credit System, Pioneer Hi-Bred, Inc. and Syngenta as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.