Since February is the month in which National FFA Week is celebrated we will start the celebration early. Each of the Friday Footnotes in February will be FFA related.
I typically receive about one inquiry a week about the FFA or some other agricultural history topic. One recent inquiry was “I found a few older plaques that belonged to my husband’s grandfather. I’m not familiar with either of them and I’m not even sure they were presented by FFA. I just wanted to see if you had heard of either of them before. Thank you for any insights.” The following image was attached.
Figure 1. The FFA Eagle Award Plaque
Some of you might say “Duh.” You are well aware of this award. However, some of you might say “Huh?” You have never heard of this award. So let’s learn about the FFA Eagle Award.
A Sampling of FFA Eagle Award Recipients
In an article in the Martinsville, Indiana Reporter-Times dated June 16, 1995 it was reported that Jill Summerlot had received the National FFA Eagle Award. The article included this statement “This is the first time this award has ever been presented in the Martinsville chapter. Jill was nominated for this honor to the National FFA Organization by Mr. Jackson [the agriculture teacher]. The requirements were very strict, and include “above and beyond dedication.”
Figure 2. Newspaper article from Martinsville, Indiana Reporter-Times dated June 16, 1995.
If one were to search, they would find that:
Ruth Moore donated $10,000 to the Lincoln (CA) High School FFA in 1992 to establish a scholarship fund in memory of her grandson, Steven Moore, who was killed by a hit-and-run driver three years earlier. In appreciation of the scholarship gift, Ruth was presented with the FFA Eagle Award. Lincoln (CA) News Messenger, October 22, 1992
At the Manheim (PA) Central High School Senior Award Banquet Daryl L. Bruchart won three awards – Manheim Rotary Club Vocational Agriculture Award, Farmers First Bank Vocational Agriculture Award, and the FFA Eagle Award. Lancaster (PA) New Era, June 3, 1994
Justin Klein of Boscobel High School in Wisconsin received the FFA Eagle Award at the FFA chapter banquet in 1998. The Boscobel (WI) Dial, April 30, 1998.
Allen Blezek, an agricultural education professor at the University of Nebraska received the Nebraska AgRelations Council Exemplary Service to Agricultural Award in 2001. In the news article announcing this recognition it was stated that he had also received the “Nebraska FFA Association’s Eagle Award.” The Schuyler (NE) Sun. August 23, 2001.
Olesea Burdugos was an exchange student from Moldova in 2005/2006 and lived with a family in Iowa. She attended a local high school and was active in the FFA where she received the FFA Eagle Award. https://worldlinkinc.org/my-ten-year-reflection.
In 2017 Jerome Tymrak was inducted into the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Agriculture College Hall of Honor. He had been an agricultural teacher at the high school and university level in Texas. Among the many accolades he had received during his career was the “Texas FFA Eagle Award for Outstanding Efforts in Agricultural Leadership.” https://www.tamuk.edu/agriculture/admin/college-awards/hall-of-honor.html
On the LinkedIn page for Rob Finch we find the following.
Figure 3. From https://www.linkedin.com/in/robwfinch/
A Facebook posting on April 26, 2022 from the Cottonwood, Alabama High School FFA has photos of various chapter award winners. Sarah Juarez was presented the Eagle Award. The caption accompanying the photo stated “The Eagle Award is given to a senior FFA member who excels in leadership and goes above and beyond what is expected to become a better person and great leader in both the chapter and community. Congratulations President Sarah Juarez!”
Figure 4. Image from the Cottonwood, Alabama Facebook site.
Other mentions could be cited but you get the idea. The award was given to FFA members and to supporters of the FFA.
When was the FFA Eagle Award Established and What Were the Criteria for Receiving it?
A search of FFA convention proceedings and minutes of the FFA Board of Directors find only one mention of the FFA Eagle Award. There is no record of a motion or constitutional change regarding the FFA Eagle Award in the FFA Convention proceedings. There is no record of the National FFA bestowing this award on anyone at the national convention.
I have searched the online National FFA Archives and other FFA materials and can find no description of the award or criteria for earning it. What I did find was from the minutes of the June 26, 1991 meeting of the Governing Committee of the National FFA Board of Directors. They approved the addition of 43 items to the FFA Supply Service Catalog. One of the items was a FFA Eagle plaque.
Figure 5. From page 46 of the July, 1991 FFA Board of Directors Minutes.
I reached out to several colleagues in the search for additional information about the FFA Eagle Award. Troy White at the University of Nebraska wrote “I know the FFA has always had an Eagle Award plaque and statue. I frequently gave it out to my retiring chapter president or the member who had served the chapter the most for the year, but I have never seen any actual requirements for the award. I believe it’s still in the FFA catalog.”
The 2011 FFA Supply Service catalog did carry an updated FFA Eagle Plaque and an Eagle trophy/statue. The most recent catalog does not have the plaque but does have the eagle trophy/statue. See Figures 6 and 7.
Figure 6. From the 2011 FFA Supply Service Catalog, Image courtesy of David Laatsch.
Figure 7. From the current FFA supply Service Catalog
If you want a FFA Eagle plaque you might contact the Texas Specialty Manufacturing Company. They sell a wooden laser engraved plaque for the FFA Eagle Award.
Figure 8. FFA Eagle Plaque from the Texas Specialty Manufacturing Company.
Concluding Remarks
Now, you know everything I know about the FFA Eagle Award.
During my high school teaching days I required all seniors to read Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People book. If you haven’t read it, I would encourage you to do so. It is a must read.
In the Fundamental Techniques in Handling People section the second principle is “Give Honest and Sincere Appreciation.” No matter who you are and how many recognitions you have received, you still like to be complimented and recognized. That is human nature.
As we move toward celebrating National FFA Week in a few weeks, this would be a good time to give honest and sincere appreciation to the supporters of your program. Perhaps it is time to refresh the FFA Eagle Award.