The National FFA Organization selected 16 students from throughout the United States as finalists for its 2018 top achievement awards: American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement and American Star in Agriscience.
The American Star Awards represents the best of the best among thousands of American FFA Degree recipients. The award recognizes FFA members who have developed outstanding agricultural skills and competencies through the completion of a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program. A required activity in FFA, an SAE allows members to learn by doing. Members can own and operate an agricultural business, intern at an agricultural business or conduct an agriculture-based scientific experiment and report the results.
Other requirements to achieve the award include demonstrating top management skills; completing key agricultural education, scholastic and leadership requirements; and earning an American FFA Degree, the organization’s highest level of student accomplishment.
A panel of judges will interview finalists and select one winner for each award at the 91st National FFA Convention & Expo, Oct. 24-27 in Indianapolis. The four winners will be announced during an onstage ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 25.
Case IH, Elanco and Syngenta sponsor the American FFA Degree recognition program.
The finalists include:
American Star Farmer
Adam Eichacker of the McCook Central FFA Chapter in South Dakota
Dylan Finken of the Max FFA Chapter in North Dakota
Austin Stanton of the Centralia FFA Chapter in Missouri
Laura Stobb of the Milaca FFA Chapter in Minnesota
American Star in Agribusiness
Benjamin Curtin of the Taylorville FFA Chapter in Illinois
Aaron Deunk of the Norris FFA Chapter in Nebraska
Conner Watts of the Slaton FFA Chapter in Texas
Brady Womack of the Morris FFA Chapter in Oklahoma
American Star in Agricultural Placement
Gracie Danner of the West Liberty FFA Chapter in Iowa
Landon Herring of the Lowndes County FFA Chapter in Georgia
Jarret Moser of the Jefferson County FFA Chapter in Tennessee
Colin Wegner of the United South Central FFA in Minnesota
American Star in Agriscience
Adrienne Blakey of the Stillwater FFA Chapter in Oklahoma
Katherine Marie Fazzino of the Rudder FFA Chapter in Texas
Eric Koehlmoos of the South O’Brien FFA Chapter in Iowa
Katheryn Vacula of the Big Foot FFA Chapter in Wisconsin
Visit FFA.org/stars for more information about the American Star Awards.
The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 653,359 student members who belong to one of 8,568 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization is also supported by 344,239 alumni members in 2,051 alumni chapters throughout the U.S.