Honorary Awards
FFA relies on the support and dedication of teachers, individuals, and organizations to offer impactful opportunities for its members.
At the National level, those who have made significant contributions to FFA are recognized with the Distinguished Service Award, VIP Citation, or the Honorary FFA Degree.
The Honorary Degree is presented to those who have provided outstanding service in helping advance agricultural education and the FFA.
Thank you to all of our honorary award recipients - without your hard work and support to the FFA we would not be where we are today! We thank you for ensuring the promise of FFA and the future of agriculture for the students at McCook Central High School.
Past Honorary Degrees
We've done our best to put together the history of our chapter based on what we know. If you know someone who should be included, or have more info to share, please let us know!
Chapter Honorary Degrees
1963 - Clarence Hillman
1964 - Earl Dean
1965 - Bob Kelton, Lee Stroup
1966 - John Stiefvater
1967 - Don Waugh
1968 - Jim Garry
1969 - Larry Nelson
1970 - Ray Sandine, Ron Sadine, Gene Sandine
1971 - Oliver Sandine
1972 - John Giesler
1973 - Jerry Kolbeck
1974 - Earl McCullough
1975 - Vearl Wahle
1976 - Myron Tuschen
1977 -
1978 - Steve Weber
1979 - Clyde Streff
1980 - Cletus Heummiler, Bob Brown, Clarence Mader
1981 - Duane Knebel, Ester McCullough, Freida Schmeichel
1982 - MaryAnn Tuschen
1983 - Dale Weber
1984 -
1985 - Dean Doss, Dean Koch
1986 - Eric Erickson, Gary Williams
1987 - Ron Ecklein
1988 - Ellsworth (Ajax) Hansen, Jim Muller
1989 - Jeff Tuschen, Gary Sherman
1990 - Terry Nebelsick, Jim McGregor
1991 - TJ Forster, Ed Gray
1992 - Kurt Stiefvater, Duane VanEmmerik
1993 - Robert Matthaei
1994 - Lyle Putthoff
1995 - Calvin & Glorius Heitzman
1996 - Jo McGregor, Jim Koch
1997 - Bob Eich, Dennis VanOverschelde
1998 - Ron Bennett, Fred Butzke
1999 - Karen Streff, Shirley Koepsell
2000 - Charlie Gregg, Norman & Mary Rae Peterson, Merlin & Collette Schock, Mike & Michele Eichacker
2001 - Bill Eichacker, Pat Rieckman, Brenda Moerke, Richard & Loretta Lauck
2002 - KC Gregg, Todd Marks, Clyde Sandine, Todd Tuschen
2003 - Dave Frendrich, Brad Schock
2004 - Sarah VanDerVliet, Mike & Joanne Schock
2005 - Robert Deters, Kevin Erikson
2006 - Karen Fendrich, Craig & Glenda Blindert
2007 - Jerry Eichacker, David Eichacker
2008 - Mark Palmquist, Carol Pistulka
2009 - Maureen Wobig, Jenni Heumiller
2010 - Jim Giesler, Kevin Spaans
2011 - Brad Seamer, Deanna Knudsen
2012 - Laurie Laetsch, Chad Krempges
2013 - Alicia Reif, Travis Raap
2014 - Steve Eichacker, Tim Matthaei
2015 - Dan Streff, Eugene Streff
2016 - Ron Mayrose, Darin Schroeder
2017 - Kevin Blagg, Tracy Chase, Richard Wobig
2018 - Scott Chase, Gene Uphoff
2019 - Brian Nelson, Carie Stiefvater
2020 - Jim Anderson, Maria Buus
2021 - Andrew Streff, Masey Pechholt, Cathy Eichacker
2022 - George Eichacker, John Pulse, Mike Stiefvater
2023 - Jeanette Grady, Amanda Roth, Austin Herrboldt
2024 - Tanya Schock, Paul Westhoff, Owen Sandine
2025 - Cam Howard, Angie McCormick, Jennifer Roling
State Honorary Degrees
1976 - Boyd Meyer
1991 - Raphael Eichacker
1994 - Jim McGregor
1997 - Terry Rieckman
1998 - Don and Helen Jacobson
1999 - Charles Gregg
2001 - Dennis VanOverschelde
2002 - Dan & Karen Streff, Allen &and Kay Bies
2003 - Norm and Mary Rae Peterson
2004 - Patsy Rieckman
2006 - Brad Bies, Jerry & Barb Gottlob, Dave and Karen Fendrich
2008 - Richard Lauck
2010 - Jennifer (Schock) Heumiller
2011 - Mark and Deb Palmquist, Dennis and Kim Gassman, Kenny Zulk, Kathy Zulk
2013 - Jim Giesler
2015 - David and Jolene Eichacker
2017 - Maureen Wobig, Eugene & Julie Streff
2019 - Steve & Cathy Eichacker
2020 - John & Angie Pulse
2021 - Mike & Carie Stiefvater, Travis & Dawn Schock
2023 - Stacey Sieverding, Mat Pechholt, Kevin Blagg
2024 - Beth Mayrose- Kenkel, Tracy Chase
2025- Austin Herrboldt
Honorary American Degrees
1998 - Charles Gregg, Terry Rieckman
2001 - Dan and Karen Streff
2002 - Norman & MaryRae Peterson
2005 - Jerry & Barb Gottlob
2010 - Brad Bies, Mark & Deb Palmquist, Kenny Zulk, Kathy Zulk
2014 - David & Jolene Eichacker
2018 - Steve & Cathy Eichacker
2019 - Eugene & Julie Streff
2020 - Travis & Dawn Schock
2023 - Mike & Carie Stiefvater
Distinguished Service Award
2009 - Jerry & Barb Gottlob
2010 - Ashley Streff
2015 - Dan & Karen Streff
2021 - Eugene & Julie Streff
2023 - Mike & Carie Stiefvater​
National VIP Citation
2022 - Terry Rieckman