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FFA Evaluation FAQs

  1. What are the allowances for educational expenses on the State and American Degree as it pertains to FFA-related trips?
  2. Our semester ended today and our guidance counselor said they could not give us an official transcript by the date we need one. Can I write the student’s grades and attendance on a separate sheet of paper to calculate GPA and attendance? Will this be accepted as an official transcript?
  3. Is it OK to fill the caption box and have more than 50 words for picture captions even though the check sheet on the application still says 50 or less?
  4. One of my students has kept all show heifers in a replacement heifer book until they are done showing and bred, then we sell them out of that book into breeding book. Am I to assume we use that closing cost as the acquisition cost on the American Degree? (But most of those animals were born on her farm, so should acquisition in American Degree be $0.00 or cost of semen plus a year of cow and feed,) but then that animal would gain in value and not depreciate until she is older; how do you enter on inventory or breeding livestock pages in American Degree?
  5. What forms need to be turned in for Star State and Star American?
  6. Can a student apply for both State and American Degree in the same year?
  7. I have an SAE that has frozen embryos. Is that current or non-current?
  8. How do I determine the value of raised livestock?
  9. We intensely evaluated record books at the sub-district level. I understand that this is where they SHOULD be under intense scrutiny. I also understand that records are not going to be 100% verified at the District Evaluation; however, all record books need to be readily available in case any questions in the applications arise. Am I understanding or interpreting this correctly so that I can send out messages to the rest of the District?
  10. Is the Star State Degree Battery required to be eligible for the Star State Degree or is the Battery included only if they want to be evaluated for state FFA office?
  11. Are the Agri-Entrepreneurship applications due at district evaluation?
  12. Can I run the same student in more than one Star Degree area? If I can, do we need to have more than one application or can we check all that apply on the battery page?
  13. Does the occupational goal in the general book have to be agriculturally related? We have some students who want to pursue careers in forensic science and cosmetology - is that the goal they list in the general book, or do they need to select an agriculturally related field?
  14. Can the dates of the picture pages be different than the rest of the application?
  15. I have a student that has an inventory of show supplies for their projects should this go in the application under current/operating income or should I put it in the application under non-current capital transactions? Please let me know so that I can enter it into the applications correctly because I have been told both ways are correct.
  16. On an award application, page 5 of Entrepreneurship, I have a need to put a negative number in the "Other SAE Earnings not from this area" to be accurate w/ the project books (investment in breeding animals that haven't produced a calves yet). The application won't take negative numbers; do we just leave it blank?
  17. How many pictures are required to be considered eligible for a proficiency award? Do they have to have all 6 pictures to keep from being disqualified?
  18. Our school’s system for running transcripts isn't working and they're not sure when it will be fixed. It's not sounding likely that I'll have it by evaluations. I need to have grades and attendance records through Dec. 31, right? Can they hand-write on an old transcript (the old system, which has everything through June 06), or what should I have them do?
  19. I have a student who is currently a Grad II. She took out a loan for college last year ($2500), which isn't due until after she graduates. Where does this go on the American Degree application?
  20. I have a student applying for Star State Farmer. What is the difference between Star State in Agribusiness and Star State Placement? He has had numerous job placements at agribusinesses and I am not sure in which he would fit.
  21. I just want to verify that it is ok to have two "Errors" on page 11 of the state degree application.
  22. I have a sophomore who is using the Business Enterprise book for his Mowing Business. He has met the minimums for both entrepreneurship ($500) and placement (100 hours) for Turfgrass Management, both of which are included in the Business book. Which award application should he use? Entrepreneurship since he is a business and not working for an employer getting a set wage (this is where we currently have things) or placement since he has hours recorded.
  23. I have a student who received his State Degree in 2005. We are now working on his American degree. On his state degree they put in an appreciation for some equipment and machinery in his inventory. He buys used equipment and fixes it up, thus the value is now more than when he acquired it. The problem is, on the application it won't allow us to put anything but depreciation in. Any suggestions or advice?
  24. On the front cover of the placement application it asks for the email address of the student instead of the SSN like the entrepreneurship application. But on the check sheet on the back it asks if the student has its SSN instead of email. Is this a typo? We just want to make sure we do not have any students DQ over this.
  25. I have a student that was awarded a National FFA Scholarship last year and wants to apply this year for his American Degree. Can this scholarship be added to the application somewhere and if so, where?
  26. I have a few students who were born prior to 1990 but the proficiency award application doesn't give any year earlier. Suggestions?
  27. Can a student submit two proficiency awards in the same area, one for entrepreneurship and one for placement?
  28. Q: Last year, on the National Chapter application, many applications were docked because they didn't do something correctly. I think it was something about that we couldn't have the same activity for the small activities and the big activities. They have to be different activities.
  29. Today, the guidance counselor printed the transcripts for state degrees and the computer program lists the total days for the entire school year. For example one transcript reads 178 days presents 0 absent for 2006. The program subtracts a day if the student misses. So at evaluation the days present for this year will show the entire year instead of the first semester. Will this be a problem? If so what do we need to do?
  30. When we fill out a candidates state degree application the Page 11 with all of the numbers has an error. The one-labeled page 11 financial says all areas are met and the other tab labels page eleven is blank. The page with the errors appears to be based on American degree requirements. Can I ignore the error?
  31. "The candidate must complete 30 Hours of Home/ Community Service." Are there any guidelines listed for this State FFA Degree requirement? I have searched and found nothing. I understand the task of completing a home improvement project, but how can the student record thirty hours of community service. Do we use the same documentation as needed for a home improvement project?
  32. I have a student who keeps his DHI cow milk records on his computer. He just purchased a laptop for this use and 75% of the computer's use is for farm use. He paid $1,500 for the laptop can he claim that as a productively invested asset on his state degree?
  33. I have a girl who needs to list some dairy animals as appreciating from the time of purchase, not depreciating (have become certified organic, are bred, etc.). To do this in the past, I've always just listed the initial purchase price then in the depreciation column, put in a negative #. The application won't take the negative sign or ( ), bringing up a window saying to use whole numbers only, no decimals. What can I do?
  34. I have a girl whose mother died her senior year, so she did not have the attendance rate to qualify for her state degree last year. Can I get a waiver for her for this?
  35. I have two students who are doing their hay books. Dad provides the equipment. The boys are paying for the repairs and fuel. Would we bill depreciation costs on the equipment in the record books. I mentioned using the OSU recommended rates for equipment, but dad didn't fell as though that wasn't a true production cost.
  36. If a student has no financial involvement in a home improvement project can they list on the budget page they have no financial involvement?
  37. I have a student whose father has a 30' x 128' Crop King Hoop Greenhouse that is totally paid off and it was sitting idle until he began raising hydroponic cucumbers. How do we put a cost in for the greenhouse? Do we even need a cost since it was just sitting there?
  38. If a student has no financial involvement in a home improvement project can they list on the budget page they have no financial involvement?
  39. On the state degree, can a student put any value for a vehicle owned to commute to a SAE job placement site on page 7?
  40. On the state degree, is there a place to verify the GPA on page 13?
  41. Is a non-creed speech with questions that is under six minutes counted the same as counting the creed with a series of questions (e.g. speech was 5:52 plus questions)? Is the time of the speech required on the degree or just the name with the verification in the General Record Book?
  42. On the degree application from the web, it shows a separate page 11 at the end of the list of pages. Is there supposed to be information on that page and is that the page 11 that is supposed to go with the state degree application? The application that I downloaded does not have anything showing up on page 11. Because the page 11 within the application is the American degree, right? I was just curious and confused.
  43. I have some students with barley and wheat SAEs. Normally entrepreneurship records begin January 1st and end December 31st of that same year. Should their records begin for example: September and end July with one crop? Or should their records run from January to December with harvesting of the crop planted the previous year then planting a new one in the fall?
  44. I have another proficiency question for you. I have a student whose family owns a small greenhouse. She rented the greenhouse from her parents and resold flats and pots of flowers she purchased. If she were interested in applying for a proficiency award, what area would you suggest? Does this fall under floriculture since she is not actually producing the flowers?
  45. The first page 12 is only for the American correct?
  46. On page 12 of the State Degree application, can students use Project Reach for FFA Camp since it is at Camp Muskingum?
  47. I have a student that raises Holstein calves from 3 days to 550 lbs and then sells them to be finished out. Is this a dairy or beef project?
  48. Does our reporter have to use the official FFA scrapbook or if can she use a 12" by 12" scrapbook?
  49. I have several students that are keeping hours worked on a farm. They want to apply for Sheep Production Placement (for example). All the hours in their book are for all of the work done on the farm (hay, grain etc.) not just dealing with sheep. Can they use all of those hours since hay and some of the grain are grown in this case for the sheep? Or do they need to fill out a new book and transfer the sheep hours? Also, I have students wanting to apply for Diversified Ag Production. Is that for entrepreneurship or placement? Can it be a combination of the two?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  1. Q: What are the allowances for educational expenses on the State and American Degree as it pertains to FFA-related trips?
    A: If applicants use their personal funds they may claim limited costs to the following FFA sanctioned events: National FFA Convention - $30 plus incidentals to a maximum of $350; State FFA Convention $17.50 plus incidentals to a maximum of $75; Washington Leadership Conference - $595plus incidentals to a maximum of $750; Made for Excellence - $95; FFA Camp - $110; and Greenhand/Taxonomy Camp - $45.
  2. Q: Our semester ended today and our guidance counselor said they could not give us an official transcript by the date we need one. Can I write the student’s grades and attendance on a separate sheet of paper to calculate GPA and attendance? Will this be accepted as an official transcript?
    A: Yes, it will be accepted as an official transcript as long as there is a valid signature from a school official (e.g. guidance counselor).
  3. Q: Is it OK to fill the caption box and have more than 50 words for picture captions even though the check sheet on the application still says 50 or less?
    A: As long as the student does not change the font size, they are allowed to use all space allowed in the box on the photo page for their caption.
  4. Q: One of my students has kept all show heifers in a replacement heifer book until they are done showing and bred, then we sell them out of that book into breeding book. Am I to assume we use that closing cost as the acquisition cost on the American Degree? (But most of those animals were born on her farm, so should acquisition in American Degree be $0.00 or cost of semen plus a year of cow and feed,) but then that animal would gain in value and not depreciate until she is older; how do you enter on inventory or breeding livestock pages in American Degree?
    A: The National FFA has changed some of their working definitions here so you’ll want to review the American FFA Degree Handbook. In the past, raised breeding livestock couldn’t be depreciated. The American FFA Degree Handbook treats this differently and treats breeding livestock as depreciable and non-depreciable. According to the Handbook, breeding livestock that has not reached maturity would be treated as non-depreciable. When working with breeding animals that are either purchased or raised, they should be treated as non-depreciable. At maturity, they can then be transferred to depreciable livestock. So, on the American Degree, the value would be the value that you have in your record book as of December 31, which is approximately the total value of the investment into the animal.
  5. Q: What forms need to be turned in for Star State and Star American?
    A: Applicants for Star State need to submit the State FFA Degree application and the Star State FFA Degree Battery. The Battery should be attached to top of the State FFA Degree application. Applicants for Star American need to submit the American FFA Degree application and the Star American FFA Degree Battery. The Battery should be attached to top of the American FFA Degree application. If a student is applying for both Star State and Star American, they need to submit two separate applications. The Star Battery is the same for both the State and the American with the exception of the front page. Therefore, just print off a new page cover page for award area.
  6. Q: Can a student apply for both State and American Degree in the same year?
    A: As long as they have graduated, they can apply for both degrees in one year. Students should submit two separate applications if they intend to apply for both.
  7. Q: I have an SAE that has frozen embryos. Is that current or non-current?
    A: Frozen Embryos are an asset; determine whether this asset is current or non-current. Once you make it one or the other, it will remain that until you decide to sell it or use it.
  8. Q: How do I determine the value of raised livestock?
    A: The value, which should be a conservative on-farm value, reflects the conservative value of the animal if sold. Erroneously inflating values to increase earnings and net worth does not follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principles that may result in applications being disqualified. Furthermore, inflated values can lead to a decline in net worth in subsequent years.
  9. Q: We intensely evaluated record books at the sub-district level. I understand that this is where they SHOULD be under intense scrutiny. I also understand that records are not going to be 100% verified at the District Evaluation, however, all record books need to be readily available in case any questions in the applications arise. Am I understanding or interpreting this correctly so that I can send out messages to the rest of the District?
    A: All applications and record books should undergo intense scrutiny at the sub-district evaluation, as this is the only level in which corrections can be made. All records books should accompany applications/degrees that are submitted at district evaluation, as applications must be verified against record books. Some sub-districts do this and others check applications and record books separately and then verify at district.
  10. Q: Is the Star State Degree Battery required to be eligible for the Star State Degree or is the Battery Included only if they want to be evaluated for State FFA Office?
    A: Star State FFA Degree applicants must complete the Star State Degree Battery and affix it to the front of the application. Ohio FFA Officer candidates do not have to submit a State FFA Degree application or the Star State Battery to run for an office.
  11. Q: Are the Agri-Entrepreneurship applications due at district evaluation?
    A: Yes they are.
  12. Q: Can I run the same student in more than one Star Degree area? If I can, do we need to have more than one application or can we check all that apply on the battery page?
    A: Yes you can but you should submit separate applications for each area.
  13. Q: Does the occupational goal in the general book have to be agriculturally related? We have some students who want to pursue careers in forensic science and cosmetology - is that the goal they list in the general book, or do they need to select an agriculturally related field?
    A: They should select their actual career goal. I think being truthful is a more valuable lesson.
  14. Q: Can the dates of the picture pages be different than the rest of the application?
    A: That doesn’t seem like it would be a big issue to me. No worries here.
  15. Q: I have a student that has an inventory of show supplies for their projects should this go in the application under current/operating income or should I put it in the application under non-current capital transactions? Please let me know so that I can enter it into the applications correctly because I have been told both ways are correct.
    A: I would group the supplies together and put them under non-current assets on page 7 if they total over $500. Otherwise, it is probably best to list them once as a cash expense in one of the market books. If you list it on page 7, then you also have to list it on page 8a&8b.
  16. Q: On an award application, page 5 of Entrepreneurship, I have a need to put a negative number in the "Other SAE Earnings not from this area" to be accurate w/ the project books (investment in breeding animals that haven't produced a calves yet). The application won't take negative numbers; do we just leave it blank?
    A: Since the application doesn’t allow you to put in negative number, leave it blank. I’ll check with the National FFA on why this is done this way.
  17. Q: How many pictures are required to be considered eligible for a proficiency award? Do they have to have all 6 pictures to keep from being disqualified?
    A: According to the rules, students must have at least one picture but no more than six to qualify.
  18. Q: Our school’s system for running transcripts isn't working and they're not sure when it will be fixed. It's not sounding likely that I'll have it by evaluations. I need to have grades and attendance records through Dec. 31, right? Can they hand-write on an old transcript (the old system, which has everything through June 06), or what should I have them do?
    A: I would manufacture a transcript (typed or hand-written) for the entire first semester including grades and attendance. Have an administrator sign off on this document for authenticity. Just make sure that all information can be accounted for between the State Degree and this transcript. This will easily replace the official transcript.
  19. Q: I have a student who is currently a Grad II. She took out a loan for college last year ($2500), which isn't due until after she graduates. Where does this go on the American Degree application?
    A: It goes on Page 10, Line 8a – second column.
  20. Q: I have a student applying for Star State Farmer. What is the difference between Star State in Agribusiness and Star State Placement? He has had numerous job placements at agribusinesses and I am not sure in which he would fit.
    A: The information you have requested can be found in the American FFA Degree Handbook on page 35. If you are an American Star Farmer candidate, you will have an entrepreneurship SAE in production agriculture. If you are an American Star in Agribusiness candidate, you will have an entrepreneurship SAE in a non-production area. Likewise as an American Star in Agricultural Placement candidate, you will have a placement SAE in production agriculture, agribusiness or directed lab that is not Agriscience based. Your placement can be a paid or an unpaid position; however, you must have enough earnings and investment from your SAE to qualify for the American FFA Degree. If you are an American Star in Agriscience candidate, you will have an SAE in natural resources, a research/experimentation type of SAE or a science-based directed lab SAE (these may be entrepreneurship or placement experiences). Your Agriscience placement can be a paid or an unpaid position; however, you again must have enough earnings and investment from your SAE to qualify for the American FFA Degree.
  21. Q: I just want to verify that it is ok to have two "Errors" on page 11 of the state degree application.
    A: You may have an error or two on the State FFA Degree application on page 11 in the American Degree section and that’s okay (Just make sure you don’t have an error on the last line – "Line 30 is equal to or less than Line 29". You need to attach that page and the state degree financial page that cannot have an error on it in the area in which you are applying.
  22. Q: I have a sophomore who is using the Business Enterprise book for his Mowing Business. He has met the minimums for both entrepreneurship ($500) and placement (100 hours) for Turfgrass Management, both of which are included in the Business book. Which award application should he use? Entrepreneurship since he is a business and not working for an employer getting a set wage (this is where we currently have things) or placement since he has hours recorded.
    A: It is definitely entrepreneurship.
  23. Q: I have a student who received his State Degree in 2005. We are now working on his American degree. On his state degree they put in an appreciation for some equipment and machinery in his inventory. He buys used equipment and fixes it up, thus the value is now more than when he acquired it. The problem is, on the application it won't allow us to put anything but depreciation in. Any suggestions or advice?
    A: The new application (revised last year) no longer allows applicants to show the appreciation of livestock or equipment. This follow generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and tax laws. The only way one can claim the true value of livestock or equipment is to sell it - otherwise, it is just paper inflation. I know this doesn't help resolve the issue but it is the correct accounting procedures. Let me know if you have other questions.
  24. Q: On the front cover of the placement application it asks for the email address of the student instead of the SSN like the entrepreneurship application. But on the check sheet on the back it asks if the student has its SSN instead of email. Is this a typo? We just want to make sure we do not have any students DQ over this.
    A: No worries here Dana. The national is in the process of making changes and haven’t been thorough with their edits. This will not be a DQ at the district or at the state.
  25. Q: I have a student that was awarded a National FFA Scholarship last year and wants to apply this year for his American Degree. Can this scholarship be added to the application somewhere and if so, where?
    A: Here’s the information that should guide you through the process. All entries go on page 11 of the application. Don’t put in all of the scholarship dollars unless they have received it. Otherwise, it will will work against the student. 19.b. Total educational expenses Today young people can become successfully established in many agricultural related occupations without acquiring physical ownership of land, equipment, facilities, etc. Therefore, to help candidates who have this type of SAE, the National FFA Board of Directors has determined that the educational expenses of tuition, registration fees and books can be claimed as a productively invested asset in meeting this American FFA Degree constitutional requirement. To be eligible the amounts that were expended for tuition, registration fees and books must come the candidate's own funds 22.c. Income other than earnings Gifts, interest on savings, inheritances and awards, cash and non-cash, also have an influence on the financial statement. Each gift, inheritance or award that was received by the candidate during the years covered by the application must be listed here. Examples: Inheritance of land State Turf and Landscape Management Award ($25.00) 129-piece set of hand tools Interest on savings account Scholarship to university
  26. Q: I have a few students who were born prior to 1990 but the proficiency award application doesn't give any year earlier. Suggestions?
    A: Just pick a date that will work. I'm not sure what the issue is but it isn't a DQ factor.
  27. Q: Can a student submit two proficiency awards in the same area, one for entrepreneurship and one for placement?
    A: Yes they can.
  28. Q: Last year, on the National Chapter application, many applications were docked because they didn't do something correctly. I think it was something about that we couldn't have the same activity for the small activities and the big activities. They have to be different activities.
    A: According to the National FFA, you can't have more than one Quality Standard from each of the three divisions. Division I: Leadership, Healthy Lifestyles, SAE, Scholarship, Career Skills Division II: Recruitment, Financial, Public Relations, Leadership, Support Group Division III: Economic, Environmental, Human Resource, Citizenship, Ag. Awareness
  29. Q: Today, the guidance counselor printed the transcripts for state degrees and the computer program lists the total days for the entire school year. For example one transcript reads 178 days presents 0 absent for 2006. The program subtracts a day if the student misses. So at evaluation the days present for this year will show the entire year instead of the first semester. Will this be a problem? If so what do we need to do?
    A: I would write the number of days for the first semester on the transcript to avoid any problems. I assume that people will be able to see that it is impossible that a student could be in attendance for the entire year at this juncture but it is better to be safe.
  30. Q: When we fill out a candidates state degree application the Page 11 with all of the numbers has an error. The one-labeled page 11 financial says all areas are met and the other tab labels page eleven is blank. The page with the errors appears to be based on American degree requirements. Can I ignore the error?
    A: Applicants should attach the "AD – Page 11" and the State Degree - Financial Page with the State FFA Degree application. The SD – Page 11 is for calculation purposes only. The AD – Page 11 will have errors (unless they already meet the requirements for the American Degree) and that is okay as the State Degree - Financial Page overrides. You need to include the AD – Page 11 as it is needed for verification purposes.
  31. Q: "The candidate must complete 30 Hours of Home/ Community Service." Are there any guidelines listed for this State FFA Degree requirement? I have searched and found nothing. I understand the task of completing a home improvement project, but how can the student record thirty hours of community service. Do we use the same documentation as needed for a home improvement project?
    A: The 30 hours can be the traditional home improvement or it can be community service. Either way, students should use the same record book.
  32. Q: I have a student who keeps his DHI cow milk records on his computer. He just purchased a laptop for this use and 75% of the computer's use is for farm use. He paid $1,500 for the laptop can he claim that as a productively invested asset on his state degree?
    A: Yes, the computer can be cataloged as a depreciable asset.
  33. Q: I have a girl who needs to list some dairy animals as appreciating from the time of purchase, not depreciating (have become certified organic, are bred, etc.). To do this in the past, I've always just listed the initial purchase price then in the depreciation column, put in a negative #. The application won't take the negative sign or ( ), bringing up a window saying to use whole numbers only, no decimals. What can I do? A: The application no longer allows for the appreciation of livestock as it does not adhere to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The only way to show income is to sell byproducts, offspring or by selling the animal. This change occurred last year with the new application. As a result, there isn't much you can do
  34. Q: I have a girl whose mother died her senior year, so she did not have the attendance rate to qualify for her state degree last year. Can I get a waiver for her for this?
    A: The Ohio FFA Board of Trustees no longer accepts waivers since they changed the attendance policy more than a year ago. If she has over a 3.0 she qualifies regardless of her attendance rate. If she doesn't have a 3.0 and has missed more than 7% of her days, then she doesn't qualify. If she is a graduate she has had the opportunity to be in school ~720 days. Seven percent of that is ~50 days. I don't know, but I'm guessing she didn't miss all of those days as a result of her mother's passing. Unless the board changes the policy, she does not meet the minimum standards. The board will be entertaining a change to this policy at the next board meeting. As a result, she may qualify next year if the proposed change passes.
  35. Q: I have two students who are doing their hay books. Dad provides the equipment. The boys are paying for the repairs and fuel. Would we bill depreciation costs on the equipment in the record books. I mentioned using the OSU recommended rates for equipment, but dad didn't fell as though that wasn't a true production cost.
    A: Couple of ways to handle it 1) their only costs are the repairs and fuel. 2) Dad charges them for equipment rental based upon repair, fuel and depreciation (if any). These will works just like the custom rate but is a more accurate cost to the boys. This is what I’d do.
  36. Q: If a student has no financial involvement in a home improvement project can they list on the budget page they have no financial involvement?
    A: Costs should be listed regardless if it is the student’s or other party. If there is no actual financial outlay, then it can be left blank.
  37. Q: I have a student whose father has a 30' x 128' Crop King Hoop Greenhouse that is totally paid off and it was sitting idle until he began raising hydroponic cucumbers. How do we put a cost in for the greenhouse? Do we even need a cost since it was just sitting there?
    A: A cost still needs to be allocated for the use of the greenhouse. It doesn’t need to be substantial but there should be some cost. I would take the total cost of the building and divide it by the useful number of years ~10. Divide that by 12 months and then multiply that by the number of months that the building will be in service annually. You may even want to make this value the other party’s share. I can explain further if needed but I think you got what you need to move forward.
  38. Q: If a student has no financial involvement in a home improvement project can they list on the budget page they have no financial involvement?
    A: Costs should be listed regardless if it is the student’s or other party. If there is no actual financial outlay, then it can be left blank.
  39. Q: On the state degree, can a student put any value for a vehicle owned to commute to a SAE job placement site on page 7?
    A: Vehicles may be considered an essential asset to a successful SAE program (e.g. pickup trucks, cars, four-wheelers, grain and fuel trucks). The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows for a reasonable proportion of vehicle ownership costs to be deducted as a business expense. The following specific guidelines must be adhered to when listing vehicles as assets in an SAE program. Note: The allowable percent value of a vehicle that can be counted in an SAE program is the percent the vehicle was used toward the SAE in a given year. Example: You put 10,000 miles on your pickup truck this year and 2,000 of those miles were directly attributed to you SAE program. Therefore, 20% of the value of that pickup can be counted as an asset toward your SAE. In real dollars that means if a pickup truck is valued at $8,000, then $1,600 can be counted as an asset toward your SAE. The remaining value of $6,400 shall be listed as "non-productively invested/personal non-current assets." Note: Current IRS rules recommend that the total value of a vehicle should never exceed 60% of the value of the vehicle. The exception to this rule would be feed trucks, fuel trucks, etc. In this instance, the vehicle shall have a farm tag and there shall be substantial supporting inventory that requires the investment of the vehicle. Example: A feed truck with a farm tag would require substantial supporting inventory such as livestock. A fuel truck with a farm tag would require substantial supporting inventory such as tractors, combines or other types of equipment. Note: At no time can a vehicle count as the only source of investment in an SAE program of a student applying for the State FFA Degree.
  40. Q: On the state degree, is there a place to verify the GPA on page 13?
    A: On Page 13 #25 "Candidate has a 93% or better school attendance rate or a 3.0 GPA." Plus on the State Degree – Cover page, they have their attendance and GPA written in and signed off by a school administrator.
  41. Q: Is a non-creed speech with questions that is under six minutes counted the same as counting the creed with a series of questions (e.g. speech was 5:52 plus questions)? Is the time of the speech required on the degree or just the name with the verification in the General Record Book?
    A: Yes, they are counted the same. Put the name of the speech in the appropriate line on the application and General RB.
  42. Q: On the degree application from the web, it shows a separate page 11 at the end of the list of pages. Is there supposed to be information on that page and is that the page 11 that is supposed to go with the state degree application? The application that I downloaded does not have anything showing up on page 11. Because the page 11 within the application is the American degree, right? I was just curious and confused.
    A: That page is for calculation purposes only. Submit the application with page 11 (from the American Degree) and the "State Degree – Financial Page." The AD page 11 may have errors if they don’t make enough money but financial page will overrule it.
  43. Q: I have some students with barley and wheat SAEs. Normally entrepreneurship records begin January 1st and end December 31st of that same year. Should their records begin for example: September and end July with one crop? Or should their records run from January to December with harvesting of the crop planted the previous year then planting a new one in the fall?
    A: You should start the student in the Plant Enterprise Record Book in the early fall of the year. The student would begin by assembling a budget, agreement and plan of practice. Additionally, they should start entering records as soon as they make any acquisitions associated with the project. The student continues to enter records for the duration of the project. After the product is sold or used at home, the analysis should be completed and the record book closed. If a student has a plant enterprise that covers two calendar years and they are competing for FFA awards, then they should take the value of all of the inputs as of December 31 and record that in the application (value of growing crops).
  44. Q: I have another proficiency question for you. I have a student whose family owns a small greenhouse. She rented the greenhouse from her parents and resold flats and pots of flowers she purchased. If she were interested in applying for a proficiency award, what area would you suggest? Does this fall under floriculture since she is not actually producing the flowers?
    A: Based upon the following description, I see no reason why you can't put her in floriculture. Floriculture - using the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market field or greenhouse production of flowers (fresh and dried), foliage, and related plant materials for ornamental purposes, including the arranging, packaging and marketing of these materials.
  45. Q: The first page 12 is only for the American correct?
    A: You are correct.
  46. Q: On page 12 of the State Degree application, can students use Project Reach for FFA Camp since it is at Camp Muskingum?
    A: On the State FFA Degree application, FFA Camp is limited to summer and fall camps only. If you had a student participate in Project Reach program it can be listed as a community activity. The key here is that it is a separate activity and not an activity that they participated in while attending FFA camp.
  47. Q: I have a student that raises Holstein calves from 3 days to 550 lbs and then sells them to be finished out. Is this a dairy or beef project?
    A: Based upon the information that you have provided, I would classify it as a beef cattle production as they are raising them for consumption.
  48. Q: Does our reporter have to use the official FFA scrapbook or if can she use a 12" by 12" scrapbook?
    A: That is her choice Matt. Just make sure she follows the Reporter’s rubric so she can earn the highest score possible.
  49. Q: I have several students that are keeping hours worked on a farm. They want to apply for Sheep Production Placement (for example). All the hours in their book are for all of the work done on the farm (hay, grain etc.) not just dealing with sheep. Can they use all of those hours since hay and some of the grain are grown in this case for the sheep? Or do they need to fill out a new book and transfer the sheep hours? Also, I have students wanting to apply for Diversified Ag Production. Is that for entrepreneurship or placement? Can it be a combination of the two?
    A: You don’t need separate books but you do need to separate the hours on a summary sheet so the judges can see the breakout of hours. And yes, the hours should be separated even if they do relate. Hours counted for Sheep production must come from directly working with sheep and not other aspects of the total farming enterprise. Diversified Ag Production is the application that all hours can be tallied on. Diversified Ag Production is a combined award area. Applicants still need to apply in either entrepreneurship or placement but they will complete against one another.
© 1996-2007 Ohio FFA Association. Last updated February 4, 2007 .