Recognized for their exceptional service and support for FFA and agricultural education, two instructors from the University of Minnesota, Crookston were recently honored. Assistant Professor Twyla Treanor, who teaches in the Math, Science and Technology Department, and Sue Jacobson, an instructor in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, were awarded an Honorary Region 1 FFA Degree during a banquet held on March 22, 2010, at the Norman County West High School in Halstad, Minn.

Treanor has been involved with regional FFA parliamentary procedure judging for 30 years beginning her involvement with Business Professionals of America (BPA). She has served on the National Board for Business Professionals of America for six years, and BPA parliamentary procedure teams have won various state and national awards over the years.

Jacobson has run a floriculture contest for Region 1 FFA at  at the U of M, Crookston for 17 years. The contest consists of a written exam, identification of plants and plant disorders and insects, and judging. She has presented workshops for FFA advisors and other agriculture education instructors at their state meeting.

The National FFA Organization bestows the awards for adults annually. These awards are given to exceptional teachers, individuals, and companies have demonstrated continued success and support of the FFA and/or agricultural education. The recipients are invited to participate in an award ceremony and to receive recognition at the regional banquet.

Region 1 FFA includes the following schools in Minnesota: Mahnomen, Frazee, Norman County West, Fertile-Beltrami, Perham, Thief River Falls, Ada-Borup, Barnesville, New York Mills, Hawley, Ulen-Hitterdahl, Detroit Lakes, Pelican Rapids, Climax, and Lake Park-Audubon.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 bachelor's degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture and natural resources; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,300 undergraduates, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

In the photo: Twyla Treanor (left) and Sue Jacobson.