Lizzette Reynolds Receives Tennessee FFA Honorary State Degree

Education Leader Recognized for Strong Support of Agricultural Programs Statewide

• Bonnie Johnson
• March 31, 2026
• Media Article

Lizzette Reynolds earns an honorary FFA degree for supporting agriculture education, student learning, and career readiness programs, helping expand opportunities and strengthen future workforce development across Tennessee schools.

---

Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education in Tennessee, receives the Honorary Tennessee FFA State Degree. This award is given to individuals who provide outstanding support to agricultural education and FFA programs at the state level.
 

The recognition highlights her efforts to strengthen agriculture learning and encourage students to build careers in this important field. Reynolds expresses her gratitude, saying, “I am beyond grateful for this recognition. Agriculture plays a foundational role in the state of Tennessee and remains a critical industry for our economy. I am incredibly proud to support the essential work being done through agricultural education.”
 

She accepts the award at the 98th Tennessee FFA Convention and Expo held in Gatlinburg. Under her leadership, the education department works closely with the Department of Agriculture. Together, they ensure that school courses match industry needs and help students prepare for future careers.
 

Reynolds actively supports the agriculture education community. She regularly attends FFA events, including special programs and student trips. She also mentors students and writes recommendation letters to help them succeed.
 

Agricultural education in Tennessee continues to grow. More than 5,000 students now take part in Work-Based Learning and Supervised Agricultural Experience programs. These courses give students real-world skills while they are still in school.
 

New subjects like Agriscience Technologies and Precision Agriculture are introduced in the 2025-26 school year. These courses teach students about modern farming tools, science, and data use in agriculture.
 

Middle school programs are also expanding. Currently, 57 schools offer agriculture courses to nearly 8,700 students. This shows a strong increase compared to previous years.
 

Student performance is improving as well. Over the past three years, agriculture students show better results in reading, math, and science.
 

FFA continues to play a key role by helping students develop leadership skills and prepare for future careers. With over 34,000 members, Tennessee FFA remains one of the largest associations, supporting student growth and success across the state.
 

Photo by : tnffa.org