Two members of the South Effingham FFA chapter are receiving one of the highest honors from the National FFA Organization.

Ashley Sapp and Casey Weredyk will be awarded the American FFA degree at the 2014 National FFA Convention and Expo, to be held Oct. 29-Nov. 1 in Louisville, Ky.

Each year, the National FFA Organization honors FFA members who show the utmost dedication to the organization through their desire to develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

The American FFA degree is bestowed up on a select group of students in recognition of their years of academic and professional excellence. Less than half of one percent of all FFA members receive the degree.

Both Sapp and Weredyk are pursuing agricultural careers in their postsecondary education.

Sapp is a junior at the University of Georgia majoring in agricultural education. She plans on becoming an agriculture teacher upon graduation.

Weredyk is a junior at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College majoring in diversified livestock production. She began breeding, raising and selling livestock animals as part of her SAE project while in high school, and has expanded to Angus cattle as well.

Sponsored by ADM Crop Risk Services, Case IH, DuPont Pioneer, Elanco, Farm Credit and Syngenta as a special project of the National FFA Foundation, the American FFA degree recognizes demonstrated ability and outstanding achievements in agricultural business, production, processing or service programs.

To be eligible, FFA members must have earned and productively invested $7,500 through a supervised agricultural experience program in which they start, own or hold a professional position in an existing agriculture enterprise. Recipients also must complete 50 hours community service and demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and civic involvement.