Walla Walla High School Graduates Earn Prestigious National American FFA Degree
Published September 5, 2025: Walla Walla Public Schools Week in Review
Three recent Walla Walla High School graduates have been recognized with the highest honors awarded by the National FFA Organization – the American FFA Degree. This distinction is reserved for members who exemplify premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.
The American FFA Degree is presented to less than one percent of FFA members nationwide in recognition of their years of academic dedication and professional achievement. This year, more than 5,200 degrees were awarded across the country.
Walla Walla High School recipients include:
- Kylie Cochran (Class of 2024)
- Kenny Gabel (Class of 2024)
- Rem McBride (Class of 2024)
These outstanding graduates were formally honored at the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo on November 1, 2025. Sponsored by leading agricultural organizations including Bayer, Cargill, Case IH, John Deere, Rabobank, and Syngenta, the award highlights exceptional ability and accomplishments in agricultural business, production, processing, or service.
To qualify for this elite recognition, members must meet rigorous standards. Candidates are required to demonstrate significant achievement in their supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program, such as owning and operating a business, holding a professional position, or conducting research. Minimum requirements include earning at least $10,000 or earning $2,000 with an additional 2,250 hours of hands-on work outside the classroom. Recipients must also complete at least 50 hours of community service and show outstanding leadership and civic involvement through FFA and community activities.
Each recipient receives a gold American FFA Degree key and certificate as symbols of their accomplishment.
The National FFA Organization is a school-based, nationwide youth leadership organization with more than 1,042,245 members in 9,407 local FFA chapters across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
