Andrew Schnebly of Scranton was among four Coon Rapids-Bayard graduates to receive their American FFA degree at the 2014 national FFA convention in Louisville, KY, Nov. 1.
A total of 3,754 FFA members were awarded the degree. The American FFA degree is FFA’s highest level of accomplishment and is earned by fewer than 1 percent of all FFA members.
To qualify for the American FFA degree, members must participate in a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) in which they earn and productively invest $7,500 while starting, owning, or holding a position in an already existing agricultural enterprise. Recipients must also complete 50 hours of community service, demonstrate leadership abilities, attend agricultural classes for three years while in high school and/or college, and have been awarded the State FFA degree.
Schnebly attended his freshman and sophomore years of high school at Jefferson-Scranton and open enrolled at Coon Rapids-Bayard High School for his junior and senior years, graduating in 2011. CR-B FFA advisor Jim Heithoff leads an outstanding FFA chapter and is instrumental in offering all his students the opportunities necessary to advance in the FFA program.
For his SAE, Schnebly worked for various area farmers while in high school. He served the CR-B chapter as vice president and the SW Iowa district as secretary. He graduated from from Iowa Central Community College with an associates degree in diesel technology in 2013. Schnebly went on the wheat harvest after graduation and then worked for a farmer in South Dakota. Most recently he purchased a semi and started Schnebly Trucking.
He is the son of Jo Anne and Steve Schnebly.
Other CR-B American FFA degree recipients this year are Marissa Donahue, Caleb Oswald and Emily Seidl. They joined 145 members from Iowa. The award is sponsored by ADM Crop Risk Services, Case IH, DuPont Pioneer, Elanco, Farm Credit, and Syngenta.
