In what year did delegates at the National FFA Convention approve the Discovery FFA Degree for middle school students?

The Discovery FFA Degree was officially approved for middle school students during the National FFA Convention in the year 2000. This addition was significant as it recognized the importance of engaging younger students in agricultural education and FFA activities. The degree serves as an introduction for students in grades 7 and 8 to FFA programs, allowing them to gain experience and knowledge related to agriculture, leadership, and personal development before advancing to the higher degrees available to high school students. The establishment of this degree aimed to encourage more youth involvement in FFA and promote agricultural education at an earlier age.