When Wellsville-Middletown seniors Jenelle Boeckelman and Caden Gilbert head to the Missouri FFA state convention in a month at Columbia, they will be receiving the biggest honor in their four-year careers in the FFA organization.

The duo was selected to receive FFA state degrees at the convention, which is scheduled for April 17-19 at the University of Missouri’s Hearnes Center.

“I’m excited,” Boeckelman said. “I’m ready to walk across the stage. Hopefully, we’ll be on the stage for more than one time. But you never know. We’re hoping it will be in livestock next year. Hopefully, we’ll be on the stage for that and we’ll be on the top for that. We’re both on the livestock team. The top five get to go on the stage at the state convention.”

Last year, W-M had four students – Kaylee Marshall, Kaleb Peak, Libby Kleinsorge and Carly Henderson – being named FFA state recipients. All of them were seniors.

This year, Boeckelman and Gilbert will receive plaques.

“That’s the best part that we’ll never forget,” Boeckelman said.

To be awarded the state degree, FFA members must be active in their SAE (supervised agricultural experience) program in agribusiness or production agriculture and show leadership through involvement in FFA, school and community activities. Boeckelman has SAE programs in cows and tractor supply, while Gilbert’s program is in hay.

Boeckelman, who lives in Middletown, said earning a state degree is not easy.

“You have to put in a lot of hours,” she said. “You have to fill out all of your record books. Caden and I both have to put in an exchange of labor of time.”

Gilbert said he is thrilled to be selected as a state degree recipient in his second year at W-M. He transferred there from Troy Buchanan High School in his junior year.

“I’m excited,” said Gilbert, who plans to attend State Technical College in Linn next year. “I’ve been wanting to get it.”

Gilbert, who lives in Wellsville, is in his first year as an officer on the W-M FFA chapter as he is the sentinel.

“It’s pretty cool,” Gilbert said. “I have more responsibilities in being in charge of something.”

Boeckelman joined the FFA chapter when she was a freshman. Last year, she was a treasurer.

“FFA was something new,” Boeckelman said. “All three of my siblings have done it, so I definitely wanted to do it to follow in their footsteps. I wasn’t so sure about it in my freshman year. But I definitely got more into it in my sophomore year. I was more involved and I started doing more things. Last year, I was an officer in my junior year and I really liked that, but I decided not to (be an officer) because I didn’t have enough time for other stuff. But I definitely really liked it. I’m kind of sad that it’s ending.”

Both Boeckelman and Gilbert attended the state convention the last three years. The event honors members for their achievements and gives members the opportunity to participate in leadership workshops.

“It’s a lot of excitement and a lot of energy,” Boeckelman said. “Everyone is so pumped up because of everything that goes on that week. You have a lot of contest teams competing. You have LDEs competing for speeches and stuff. You have all of the proficiency awards.”

Boeckelman said she and Gilbert could be eligible to get an American FFA degree since they were chosen as state FFA degree recipients this year.

“Missouri is actually one of the hardest states to get your state degree in,” said Boeckelman, who plans to attend Northwest Missouri State University next year. “So almost everybody who gets their state degree in Missouri will automatically be able to get their American (degree). So we just have to keep filling out our stuff and make sure we keep up with our SAEs and we should get our American degrees, too.”