Five Mayville FFA Alumni Earn Prestigious American FFA Degree

Five 2026 Mayville High School graduates have earned the American FFA Degree, the highest honor awarded to members by the National FFA Organization.

Kaitlyn Oechsner, Austin Thoreson, Mason Gerth, Ryan Clark and Kyleigh Casper were recognized during the 99th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The five Mayville FFA alumni crossed the stage at Lucas Oil Stadium early Saturday morning, Oct. 24, before a packed crowd to receive their American FFA Degree keys and certificates, marking the culmination of years of dedication to agricultural education, leadership and community service.

According to Mayville FFA adviser Jake Cramer, the American FFA Degree is awarded annually to members who have demonstrated personal growth and achievement through their agricultural education programs. Fewer than 1% of FFA members nationwide earn the prestigious distinction.

To qualify, recipients must have previously earned their State FFA Degree, completed at least 540 hours of agricultural classroom instruction and documented a minimum of 50 hours of community service.

Candidates must also demonstrate significant accomplishments through their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) programs, meeting specific earnings and work-hour requirements.

The degree recognizes members who have developed valuable skills through hands-on agricultural experiences while demonstrating leadership, responsibility and a commitment to their communities.

For Oechsner, Thoreson, Gerth, Clark and Casper, earning the American FFA Degree represents years of hard work and dedication, bringing national recognition to the Mayville FFA Chapter and its agricultural education program.