Four Albert Lea FFA students will receive a state degree in April.

Members Alexandria Hagen, Krystal Viktora, Jay Skaar and Levi Kermes will receive FFA state degrees at the Minnesota FFA State Convention in late April.

“I am excited for the four members receiving their state degrees,” said Christina Ebeling, Albert Lea FFA adviser. “They have worked hard on their supervised agriculture experiences for the last three to five years. Each student has different experiences that they can be proud of.”

The state FFA degree is given to the top members of a state FFA association. To receive the degree, members must meet the following requirements:

Receive the chapter FFA degree

Have been an active FFA member for at least two years

Have completed at least 360 hours of systematic school instruction in agriculture education at or above the ninth-grade level and meet certain additional standards

Demonstrate leadership ability in several ways

Have a properly certified satisfactory scholastic record

Participated in planning and completion of the chapter’s program of activities

Participated in at least 25 hours of community service in at least two community activities

Viktora will be awarded the Region 7 Star Farmer on April 11 at a regional banquet.

Albert Lea FFA students are involved in a number of activities, such as livestock judging, ag mechanics, small animal care, horses, leadership days and barrow days, Ebeling said.

Albert Lea FFA students are gearing up for a week of activities for FFA Week from Saturday through Feb. 25.

Dress-up days are planned. Tuesday will be camo day, and Wednesday will be cowboy/cowgirl day. Thursday will be ag T-shirt day, and Friday will be blue and gold day.

FFA students will travel to the state Capitol on Thursday, and a teacher appreciation breakfast will be Friday.

“It gets kids involved in leadership through agriculture,” Ebeling said.

Eleven FFA students attended the national convention in October in Indianapolis.

National FFA Week encompasses President George Washington’s Feb. 22 birthday, in honor of his legacy as an agriculturist and farmer.

FFA was founded in 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri. Membership hit an all-time high in 2016 with 649,355 members in 7,859 chapters.