Three local students — Pete Antognazzi of the West High School FFA Chapter and Brent Fukushima and Brianna Teese of the Tracy High School FFA Chapter — received the American FFA Degree at the National FFA Convention on Saturday, Oct. 23, in Indianapolis, Ind. All three graduated in May.

Of 520,000 FFA members in the country, 3,448 earned the degree this year in recognition of their leadership, community service and success in supervised agricultural experience programs.

Antognazzi, who now attends Universal Technical Institute in Sacramento and works for Toyota, raised market and breeding beef and also worked at Jules Veterinary Center as a kennel technician and nurse’s aide. He aims to become a diesel technician.

Fukushima was a state proficiency winner two years in a row for his work in diversified crop production and forage production and was named California State Farmer in 2009. He also completed an internship with Sensient Dehydrated Flavors and continues to work for that company, raising onions, garlic, peppers and herbs for dehydration, while he completes general-education courses at Modesto Junior College. Fukushima plans to pursue a major in agriculture business and go on to manage a farm or ag company.

Teese completed projects in equine husbandry and meat processing, raised market animals for the San Joaquin County Fair and handled small-animal care as a kennel technician at Jules Veterinary Center. A student at Modesto Junior College, she plans to transfer to California State University, Fresno, to complete a bachelor’s degree in animal science and earn her credential to teach veterinary science at the high school level.

• Accolades runs in Our Town whenever we hear about someone who has done something extraordinary and deserves kudos for it. If you have news for Accolades, send it to tpourtown@tracypress.com, or drop off a note at the Tracy Press office, 145 W. 10th St.