A veteran ISU animal science professor was honored as the “cream of the crop” among FFA members with the organization’s Honorary American degree.

Retired university professor F.C. Parrish received the prestigious degree Oct. 26 at the National FFA Organization annual conference in Louisville, Ky. Parrish was one of about 100 FFA members presented with a plaque and an American FFA Degree Key for their outstanding work.

“It’s neat to be recognized by an organization that is so highly recognized across the United States,” said Parrish, who taught at Iowa State for more than 37 years.

One of Parrish’s former students, Kim Anderson, a member of the Iowa FFA, nominated Parrish for the award. She recommended Parrish to the nomination committee, which submitted his name to the national organization.

“He is a sincere, caring person who genuinely cares about his students,” said Anderson, who also was a member of one of the FFA meat-judging teams that Parrish coached.

She said the committee decided to nominate Parrish for the award to recognize him for his work with meat-judging educational events for high school FFA students at the ISU Meats Laboratory.

At these events, FFA students, who have been trained by their coaches, evaluate meat carcasses, he said. Parrish said the judging plays an important role for students in developing decision-making and leadership skills. Parrish has been coordinating meat-judging contests at the ISU Meats Laboratory and coaching meat-judging teams for 25 years, he said.

Although Parrish retired last summer after 37 and a half years, he still works in his office in the Meats Laboratory every day.

“I’ve never had a morning I didn’t want to come to work,” he said. “I love my job.”

He also expressed his enthusiasm for FFA and the advantages it offers to high school and collegiate students.

He sees the meat-judging contests as a way to work with young people and help prepare them for future careers.

By using the ISU Meat Laboratory, students get a chance to visit the campus and see what’s going on at Iowa State, he said. It is important for high school students to see what higher education can do for them, Parrish said, in hopes that someday the students might continue their education – preferably at Iowa State.

On the back of the program from the 74th National FFA Convention, where Parrish accepted his plaque and medallion, is written the FFA mission: “FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.”

This description of what the FFA strives to achieve explains why Parrish was recognized for his work in FFA, Anderson said. He said he was almost as excited about receiving an Honorary FAA degree as he is about working with and helping students.

“He helped everyone,” Anderson said, “no matter what career path they chose.”