The award boasts a lengthy list of required qualifications, including a C-average and significant accomplishments in Supervised Agricultural Experiences. Jernas told WKVI morning host Tom Berg that her SAE covered beef production over two years, keeping records of projects as she built up her herd and maintained her beef production education.
Jernas told Berg that receiving this award, and others, was always a goal she had in mind.
“Of course it was a goal,” said Jernas. “Receiving as many honors in FFA as I could was definitely a goal because FFA is awesome and I loved it so much, and being honored in it was just really, really cool.”
Most FFA members never achieve the highest level of membership; in one year, less than one-half of one percent of FFA members are honored with this distinction.
Jernas is now studying animal science at Purdue University with a focus on beef production, and she said FFA has definitely followed her to college. She said the organization provided her with leadership skills and a strong network of resources. She said she gained a lot of experience through the organization.
“Most definitely leadership experience; in the Oregon-Davis FFA chapter, we did a lot of volunteering for the community. Teaching others about agriculture has been one of my goals, and just kind of learning about the future of my own agriculture and agriculture as a whole all over the world, the future of it,” said Jernas.
