Some Highlanders in the Future Farmers of America program recently garnered some accolades for their hard work.

Two former Cloudland High School students recently received their American FFA Degree.

Carl Brad Markland, a 2015 CHS graduate, and Clydie “Teaira” Black, a member of the Class of 2016, earned their American FFA degrees. Less than 1 percent of FFA members across the country receive this honor.

Both Markland and Black participated in the CHS FFA Chapter from their Freshman year through the completion of their Senior year and beyond.

“Students can continue to be FFA members through the age of 21,” CHS FFA Chapter Advisor Lauren Turbyfill said. “The American Degree can only be earned after graduation.”

Those seeking to obtain their American Degree through the FFA must complete an extensive list of requirements, Turbyfill said.

Students must have earned the State FFA Degree their Junior or Senior year of high school. They must have earned, and productively invested, $2,000 and worked 2,250 hours in addition to scheduled class time through the student’s Supervised Agricultural Experience. They must also have completed 50 hours of community service/volunteerism. The students must have maintained a C or higher average throughout their entire academic career, been an active FFA member for the past three years consecutively, and complete at least 540 instructional hours of Agricultural Education during their high school tenure.

Markland served as president of the Cloudland FFA Chapter for the 2014-15 school year. He was also the first Cloudland FFA Creed Speaker. Black served as Chapter President during the 2015-16 school year. Both Markland and Black served as greenhouse managers for the school greenhouse during their tenures with the Chapter.

“Both students were driving forces in the constant progression of the Cloudland FFA Chapter, with a passion for agriculture and recruitment of new members,” Turbyfill said.