The National FFA Organization has announced the 16 finalists for its 2021 top achievement awards: American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement and American Star in Agriscience. Ethan Buck from Lafayette, IN is a finalist for the American Star in Agricultural Placement.
The American Star Awards represent 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 by completing 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 the finalists and select one winner from each award category for the 94th National FFA Convention & Expo, held in Indianapolis this fall. The four winners will be announced during the convention.
Case IH, Elanco Animal Health, NAU Country Insurance Company, Pepsico Inc, RAM Trucks and Syngenta sponsor the American FFA Degree recognition program.
The finalists include:
American Star Farmer
Josh Heupel from Le Grand, California
Grady Johnson from Holdrege, Nebraska
Kurt Muggli from Carson, North Dakota
Raegan Klaassen from Hydro, Oklahoma
American Star in Agribusiness
Noah Anuez from Lake City, Florida
Tyler Ertzberger from Carnesville, Georgia
Matthew Rowlette from Berea, Kentucky
Wyatt Harlan from Slaton, Texas
American Star in Agricultural Placement
Caleb Peckham from Woodstock, Connecticut
Duncan Patton from Comer, Georgia
Ethan Buck from Lafayette, Indiana
Jakob Weinheimer from Groom, Texas
American Star in Agriscience
Mackenzie Camacho from Madera, California
Emily Acevedo from Starke, Florida
Chase Krug from Marion, Iowa
Reese Wilson from Stephenville, Texas
Visit FFA.org/stars for more information about the American Star Awards.
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 760,000 student members as part of 8,700 local FFA chapters in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.