ABOVE: Lincoln Becker stands with his American FFA Degree, which he just received over the weekend at a convention in Indianapolis. Submitted photo.

FAIRMONT – Lincoln Becker, a Fairmont High School graduate, is the most recent in his family to receive an American FFA Degree, the highest achievement an FFA student can receive.

To receive this recognition, the National FFA Foundation says an FFA member must have earned at least $10,000 or earned at least $2,000 and worked at least 2,250 hours outside of class time through a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program in which they own their own business, hold a professional position as an employee or conduct research.

Recipients must also complete 50 hours of community service and demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and civic involvement through the completion of a long list of FFA and community activities.

Becker is the latest in his family to receive this award which his mom, brother, grandpa, and two cousins have also obtained. He said it was his family that got him into pursuing the American Degree in the first place.

“You’ve got to commit pretty early, because you have to meet a bunch of qualifications,” Becker said. “You have to be so many years in FFA, so many hours, so many things. My goal is get my state degree, and then as we got going, you have to meet all the requirements, you got to plan ahead if you’re going to do those things. It can be pretty hard if you don’t stay on top of your hours or money.”

Throughout his time in FFA, Becker climbed the ranks and worked on multiple activities.

“I was an officer my sophomore, junior and senior year,” Becker said. “I was a parliamentarian, my sophomore year, my junior year, I was a treasurer, and then my senior year, I was the president. So that would have been 2021 to 2023. Some of the main activities I did were livestock judging, meats judging and then parliamentary procedure.”

When things got tough, Becker remembered his family and the prestige that comes with an American Degree.

“It’s a good selling point for getting jobs in the future and being one of the highest, prestigious honors,” he said. “It looks really good on a resume. That was one thing I really wanted to have on there, and then keeping it being someone in our family that has done it, and everyone else has done it, it’s something I look forward to, and it motivated me to get it done.”

For those looking to become one of the select few who receive this recognition, Becker said it is important to stay on top of everything.

“Keeping up with all your financials, working with your advisors and keeping up to date on your stuff,” he said. “Not getting behind on your hours, money and your community service. Always asking questions so you’re not left behind, or miss a due date, or don’t have this qualification.”

While it’s not required, Becker made the 9-hour drive to Indianapolis to be recognized at FFA Nationals on November 1. He said it was definitely an honor to be in front of others who had achieved what he had.

“However many years since eighth grade, all that, and now I get to have that for the rest of my life,” Becker said. “It just meant a lot for working for something that long and then finally getting it. I’m glad I went. A lot of people can just get the reward and not go, but the nine-hour trip was definitely worth it to make connections and meet people.”

Fairmont FFA Advisor Nick Pease said he has always seen Becker do well and has always had that goal in mind for the degree.

“This is a big deal; they have to have a fully supervised agricultural experience for four years,” he said. “They are very on top of things, very good leaders within the chapter, they are good at keeping records, and participate in a majority of career development experiences.”

While only time will tell what could pan out, Pease said there are some Fairmont FFA students working toward their State Degrees right now, and they could choose to attempt what it takes to get an American Degree.

Today, Becker is heading into his junior year at South Dakota State University. His plan is to graduate and take over LB Pork for his family.