Farming and caring for animals is a way of life for Katie Majors.

At 21, she has achieved one of the highest farming honors among teens in the nation. She attended the National FFA convention in Indianapolis last month to receive the American Farmer Degree, the most respected degree available through FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America).

The Slippery Rock woman is the first Laurel graduate in 35 years to have attained the degree, and nationally, fewer than 0.6 of 1 percent of all FFA members ever achieve it, according to her FFA adviser, Joe Goodge.

It is because of her family’s involvement in farming and her dedication to the career through her schooling that she could claim the honor.

Majors, a daughter of Kim Majors of New Castle, was in Laurel FFA for three years, but it took more than four years for her to complete the degree requirements: She earned her Keystone Farm Degree, achieved outstanding Scholastic Aptitude Test scores, earned and invested at least $7,500 through working, maintained a “C” average or higher in her school grades and completed an application from the state.

Majors credited Goodge, her high school agricultural education teacher, for his help.

“She’s very deserving,” Goodge commented. “She was a great student and I expect to hear good things about her in the future.”

In high school, Majors was FFA vice president, demonstration team member and participant in county roundup competitions.

“Throughout the entire process I had aid from my family, who — whenever I felt overwhelmed — reminded me of the reward of my hard work that was yet to come,” she said.

She was thrilled to represent FFA in Indianapolis, she said. “Once I got to hold the degree and receive the pin, it was official that all of the hard work and dedication had finally paid off.

“I have the degree sitting out where I can see it, because it helps to remind me of how a little hard work can go a long way.”

A lifelong Laurel-area resident, Majors gained her farming experience on the Butler County dairy farm of her father, Elton Scheidemantle, who raises Holsteins.

She has raised Yorkshire and Shropshire pigs for 11 years and has shown pigs and sheep at the Lawrence County Fair. One of her hogs was the grand champion in 2002.

Majors’ activities also include four years in the Spartanettes dance line and participation in the Laurel Conservation Club, Future Business Leaders of America, sports and school musicals.

The year she graduated — 2006 — she was Laurel’s homecoming queen and the Lawrence County Fair queen.