Decorah High School (DHS) FFA’s Melia Kruse recently earned top honors at the 2023 National FFA Convention and Expo.
The National FFA Organization honors FFA members who show the utmost dedication to
the organization through their desire to develop their potential for premier leadership,
personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. The American FFA
Degree is bestowed upon a select group of students in recognition of their years of
academic and professional excellence. Each year less than one percent of the FFA
membership receives the American FFA Degree.
Kruse was awarded the American FFA Degree at the 96th National FFA
Convention & Expo on Nov. 4.
Kruse has been an active member of the Decorah FFA and met the requirements for the highest degree through the FFA. Each recipient of the American FFA Degree will receive a gold American FFA Degree key and certificate.
To be eligible, FFA members must have earned and productively invested $10,000
through a supervised agricultural experience program in which they start, own, or hold a
professional position in an existing agricultural enterprise or earned and productively
invested $2,000 and worked 2,250 hours in excess of scheduled class time. Recipients
must also complete 50 hours community service, demonstrate outstanding leadership
abilities and civic involvement, and have a good academic record.
Kruse is the 22nd member of the Decorah FFA who has earned this degree. Other
Decorah FFA members who have earned this degree include Aaron Lovstuen, 1996-97;
Sam Murray, 1997-98; Jacob Groth, 2000-01; Jeremy Peake, 2000-01; Ryan Holthaus,
2001-02; Kayla Hotvedt, 2003-04; Aric Yaw, 2003-04; Justin Holthaus, 2005-06; Mitch
Hemesath, 2006-07; Gabriel Twedt, 2009-10; Dalton Frana, 2011-12; Danielle Fulsaas,
2012-13; Dustin Bigler, 2013-14; Andrew Luzum, 2013-14; Jordan Tietz, 2013-14; Aric
Luzum, 2016; Isaac Luzum, 2016; Daiton Tietz, 2017; Hailey Nierling, 2019; Ashley
Schwartzhoff, 2019; and Blake Courtney, 2020.
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