On Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, BKW alumna Kayleigh Reynolds-Flynn became her alma mater’s first student ever to earn an American FFA Degree, which she was awarded at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN. The degree is a top honor achieved by fewer than two percent of the more than 730,000 FFA members.
Kayleigh, known to many as Kerf, traveled from her current home in Alaska to Indiana to walk the stage in front of 50,000 FFA members and guests in attendance at the convention. Achieving the American FFA Degree was the culmination of more than five years of hard work and effort.
Kayleigh grew up on a farm in the Hilltowns. At BKW, she was active in FFA, completed numerous agriculture courses, and graduated from high school in June, 2019. She went on to SUNY Cobleskill, where she first studied canine training, then changed her major to equine husbandry, earning an associate’s degree in May 2021.
Following college graduation, Kayleigh moved to Soldotna, Alaska, where she owns one horse and will soon own another: she managed the breeding of a mare, and the mare is in foal. Kayleigh competes in barrel racing and has a future career goal of training mustangs to become hunting horses.
In Soldotna, which is outside of Kenai, AK, Kayleigh works in fishing weight fabrication and also on a food truck during summer.
Many steps to earn an American FFA Degree
As an active FFA member during her time at BKW, Kayleigh earned an FFA Empire Degree “at the state convention, where you hear your school’s name announced and people cheer for you,” she said.
She then began working while in college to earn the American FFA Degree. “Two years later, after earning my Empire Degree, I got my American FFA Degree and heard BKW announced again, and get cheered again, at the National Convention.”
To earn her American FFA Degree, Kayleigh had to submit an application proving that she met the following requirements:
- Had been an active member of the FFA for at least 3 years
- Demonstrated an academic record of a C or better
- Demonstrated outstanding leadership
- Completed 50 hours or more of community service
- Through her Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), earned $10,000 and invested $7,500 and/or worked in excess of 2,250 hours
Kayleigh’s SAE included her work with her mom’s farm and business, Clayhaven Carriage & Wagon in Knox, and her reinvestment of money earned went into horse feed and training in college. “Working 10,000 hours with horses was easy because horses are my life,” Kayleigh noted.
She added, “I had three years of agriculture in high school, two years in college, was a student in good standing, active in a post-secondary agricultural club, helped with FFA fundraisers and performed community service.”
Kayleigh served as a firefighter with the Knox Volunteer Fire Department, with training in exterior and interior firefighting.
“At BKW, I worked with [BKW teacher and FFA advisor] Ms. Kehrer on getting my American FFA Degree, and finally got all the hours and investment done, and submitted the paperwork near the end of my classes at Cobleskill,” Kayleigh said.
“It’s not an easy application process for the American FFA Degree, and there are a lot of steps to take,” Kehrer noted. “It’s the equivalent of an Eagle Scout project. It is FFA royalty. “
Advice for students
During a visit to BKW Secondary School in early November, Kayleigh spoke to middle and high school students about her experiences in FFA over the past five years. She talked to them about the Empire Degree and American FFA Degree and encouraged her younger peers to stay active in their local chapter.
“Participate in community service, go to FFA competitions and conferences,” she told them. “You meet people from all over and they get to know you. I saw people at the FFA Nationals that I remembered from states.”
Kayleigh also shared with the students some advice. “When you think it’s getting hard, you have to keep going. I had to push through my senior year.
“Stick your neck out there and literally do everything you can in FFA. Work on public speaking, fundraising and competitions. Push yourself. You’ll meet an entire set of people who have the same interests as you. If you like agriculture, FFA is for you.”
Kayleigh’s November visit to her home school district won’t be her last. She said she will use her American FFA Degree to help other BKW students get theirs.
“It’s a big honor to go to Nationals and walk across the stage and hear people cheering for you as you get your American Degree,” Kayleigh said. “School pride has always been important to me. I would love to see other students here at BKW do that, especially as a small school.”
Kayleigh with BKW teachers and FFA advisors Michaela Kehrer (left) and Sarah McArdle before Kayleigh spoke to middle school students in the auditorium. Kayleigh participated in a range of FFA activities at BKW, from community service and fundraising to competitions and personal and professional development.
Kayleigh talks to high school students in Ms. Kehrer’s classroom. She credits Ms. Kehrer’s agriculture classes for helping her get to where she is today.
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