West Nodaway alumni given highest FFA award

By Phil Cobb | August 27, 2015 |

SUBMITTED PHOTO
The West Nodaway 2014 graduate FFA members took a picture with retired agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, Ken Wilmes. From left, Clay Mitchell, Emily Cordell, Wilmes, Kabrina McClellan, and Cody Linville. Mitchell and Linville are receiving their American FFA degree in October.

For the last five years, West Nodaway R-I graduates Cody Linville and Clay Mitchell have worked toward achieving their dream— the American Future Farmer’s of America Degree.

The American FFA degree is the honor awarded to members who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to FFA and have made significant accomplishments in their supervised agricultural experiences (SAE).

According to the FFA, 3,500 American FFA Degrees are handed out each year at the National FFA Convention and Expo in October in Louisville, Kentucky and that number represents less than half of one percent of all FFA members.

Along with the degree, Linville and Mitchell will receive a gold American FFA Degree key.

For the degree, Mitchell spent five years keeping record of his leadership experience and for his SAE, he raised beef cattle and sold them.

Linville helped his dad and uncle with row crops for his SAE project, while also helping his dad run a dozing and excavating business.

Linville and Mitchell were both in FFA for all four years of high school and the organization has been important part of their families’ lives.

“The reason I got into FFA was because my older sister was in it and she was really active in it,” Mitchell said. “I think it was probably one of her favorite organizations in high school, so I wanted a chance to do it, too. Also, my best friend was in it, so I wanted to be involved.”

Linville’s brother was in FFA and Linville was instantly intrigued by the organization.

“I enjoyed my teacher Kenny Wilmes, who retired the same year I graduated,” Linville said. “I just enjoyed him and it just seemed like a fun thing to do. I saw my brother do it and I wanted to do it.

Linville and Mitchell graduated from West Nodaway in 2014 and were both active in the organization.

Mitchell competed on several judging teams including entomology, floriculture, livestock, and soil teams.

Mitchell has had a lot of success in FFA over the years. He was a state delegate his sophomore year, his floriculture team went to state his junior year, and during his senior year of school, he was on a state entomology team and competed in extemporaneous public speaking.

“There’s so much knowledge that comes with it,” Mitchell said. “I learned so much from entomology, floriculture, and giving speeches and it’s helped me in my every day life. I’ll go around Missouri’s campus and be able to identify different flowers or bugs. Speech has given me a sense of confidence when I have to speak in front of people.”

Mitchell’s favorite part of FFA was being on the floriculture team, but he also enjoyed helping out with community activities.

“I liked being able to help part of the community,” Mitchell said. “We had a lot of community service projects in FFA and just knowing that I was making a difference was a great feeling.”

Linville had his own share of success in FFA. He competed on a dairy cattle team, a poultry team, and competed in FFA knowledge his freshman year. During his sophomore year, Linville competed in agriculture mechanics. Instead of competing in contest his junior and senior year, he was a part of program Partners in Active Learning Support (FFA PALS), which is a mentoring program that matches FFA members with elementary and middle school students. The program teaches young students about the science and business of agriculture.

Along with FFA PALS, Linville was the vice-president of the West Nodaway FFA chapter.

The American FFA Degree is an important milestone for Linville because agriculture is what he knows and what he loves.

Linville farms with his dad and has his own 10 acres of row crops, plus he helps his dad with the dozing and excavator business.

Mitchell is attending the University of Missouri and is pursuing a major in biological sciences with a minor in chemistry and philosophy. After graduate school, Mitchell plans on becoming a forensic scientist.

The National FFA Convention and Expo is Oct. 28 -31 in Louisville.