ATHOL — Not many can describe themselves as being in the top 1% of what they do, but Hayven Chase can.

The University of Idaho student recently received her American Degree at the 97th annual Future Farmers of America Convention in Indianapolis, the highest degree achievable in the National FFA Organization.

Only 1% of FFA members earn this degree, Chase said. She is the first FFA member in Kootenai County to receive it, not to mention the first Timberlake High School alumni and Timberlake FFA chapter member to do so.

“Receiving this was pretty cool, especially for our FFA chapter,” Chase said. “We’re a pretty young chapter, so it’s awesome that we have an FFA American degree recipient within the first six years.” 

Chase has been riding horses since she was 5 years old and was initially drawn to FFA by an equine science class she took in high school.

“That caught my attention because I’ve been a horse girl since I was little,” Chase said.

From there, Chase put her all into FFA chapter work, community service and competition. Even the Supervised Agricultural Experience project she completed for her FFA chapter stood out.

Chase, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 8 years old, undertook the task of training her own service dog for her SAE project. The dog was by her side when she received her American Degree in Indianapolis last week.

Chase credits her success to the opportunities that came with being involved in FFA.

“FFA was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had," Chase said.

Having graduated from Timberlake High School in 2022, Chase attends the University of Idaho in Moscow, where she is studying animal and veterinary science.

“I’ve always had this love for animals and the western way of life,” Chase said. 

    Hayven Chase and her service dog, Scentinel, after Chase received her American degree at the Future Farmers of America Convention in Indianapolis last weekend.