Opportunities to continue high school projects into a student’s college career are rare, but the Collegiate FFA is providing such chances.

“Our group is here to help transition from chapter [member] to an alumni [member]” said Kris Lansman, ISU Collegiate FFA vice president.

The group not only serves the needs of college students, it also provides its expertise at other FFA levels, said Lansman, junior in agricultural education. The members do a lot of district and state judging and serve on the Courtesy Corp at the state and national levels, he said.

Most recently, 11 members traveled to Louisville, Ky. Oct. 25 to 28 for the National FFA Convention. They helped in several areas, including the press room, floor work and the contest rooms, said Josh Sponheim, ISU Collegiate FFA treasurer.

“The Courtesy Corp is what makes the convention work,” said Sponheim, sophomore in agricultural studies.

Courtesy Corp is made up of both high school and college FFA members, he said. The high school chapter members work with seating and direction. The collegiate members assist with the office work, the contest heads and behind-the-scenes organization, Sponheim said.

Seven ISU students, including Lansman and Sponheim, received the American Degree award while at the convention, which is the “highest honor” in FFA, Lansman said.

The other five recipients were Peter Sorensen, junior in agronomy; Randy Dreher, sophomore in agricultural engineering; Nic Clausen, sophomore in pre-business; Joe Hungerford, freshman in agricultural engineering and Amanda Dight, sophomore in agricultural business.

The American Degree takes a large commitment from the FFA member, said Sorensen, ISU Collegiate FFA president. The requirements include previously receiving the greenhand, chapter and state degrees, which are achievement awards, consecutively; being out of high school at least one year; three consecutive years of active involvement; at least a C average in high school and a production project, Sorensen said.

“In the production project, you must earn and invest $7,500 or work 2,250 hours of unpaid service and earn $1,500,” he said.

The projects vary and are up to the individual FFA member. Lansman said he started a breeding swine operation his freshman year in high school and built it up to 33 head. He also undertook crop projects, he said.

Sorensen said he rented 25 acres from his father and tested different varieties of herbicides and fertilizers.

Along with the American Degree recipients, Robin Niehaus, sophomore in public service and administration in agriculture, was elected to National Secretary in FFA.

Each state can nominate one person to the national level, said Niehaus, the candidate from Illinois. This year, there were 41 candidates altogether who went through six oral interviews and two written interviews before the selection committee picked the six-member team.

The support from Iowa State and from home have been wonderful and encouraging, Niehaus said.

“It was a moment, a dream come true that I never thought would happen,” she said. “I look forward to a wonderful experience and I am excited to serve, learn and grow.”