INDIANAPOLIS, IA (Saturday, October 24, 2026/National FFA Organization) N.M. – Clemente Garcia, a 2025 graduate of Grants High School, has made history as the first member in the Grants FFA Chapter's history to earn the prestigious American FFA Degree. Garcia was recognized during the 99th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 24, 2026.
The American FFA Degree is the National FFA Organization's highest honor, recognizing members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to agricultural education, leadership, community service, and career development. Fewer than 1% of FFA members earn this distinction, and 5,816 members received the degree nationwide in 2026.
Garcia began his FFA career in 2022 and remained actively involved throughout his time at Grants High School. During his membership, he served as both a chapter officer and district officer, developing leadership skills and representing his fellow FFA members at the local and district levels.
A significant component of Garcia's FFA experience was his supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program, which included working on his family's ranch and participating in specialty poultry production. Through these experiences, Garcia gained practical agricultural knowledge, developed professional skills, and demonstrated the dedication necessary to qualify for the organization's highest honor.
To qualify for the American FFA Degree, members must meet rigorous requirements in agricultural education, leadership, and community involvement. Candidates must have earned at least $10,000 through their SAE program or earned at least $2,000 and worked a minimum of 2,250 hours outside of scheduled class time. Recipients must also complete at least 50 hours of community service and demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and civic involvement through FFA and community activities.
American FFA Degree recipients are recognized during the National FFA Convention & Expo and presented with a commemorative gold American FFA Degree key and certificate in recognition of their achievements.
Garcia is currently attending New Mexico State University–Grants, where he is pursuing his educational and professional goals to become a small business owner.
Bayer, Cargill, Case IH, John Deere, Rabobank, and Syngenta sponsor the American FFA Degree, which helps recognize outstanding achievements in agricultural education.
The National FFA Organization is a schoolbased national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,053,847 student members as part of 9,591 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.