Today, the National FFA Organization selected 16 students from throughout the United States as star finalists for its 2019 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 92nd National FFA Convention & Expo, Oct. 30 – Nov. 2 in Indianapolis. The four winners will be announced during an onstage ceremony on Friday, Nov. 1.
The finalists include:
American Star Farmer
Todd Peterson of Sabina, Ohio
Garret Talcott of Bennet, Neb.
Nicholas Torrance of Macomb, Ill.
Willis Wolf of Merced, Calif.
American Star in Agribusiness
Blake Kennedy of Tecumseh, Okla.
Hadden Powell of Montrose, Ga.
Blake Quiggins of Horse Cave, Ky.
Luke Scott of Bucyrus, Ohio
American Star in Agricultural Placement
Nicole Harder of Hooper, Wash.
Cole Riggin of Pittsburg, Kan.
Andrew Streff of Salem, S.D.
William Wynn of Moultrie, Ga.
American Star in Agriscience
Courtney Cameron of Valdosta, Ga.
Kacie Haag of Emington, Ill.
Amelia Hayden of Sharon, Wisc.
Olivia Pflaumer of Chillicothe, Ohio
Visit the FFA website for more information about the American Star Awards. Case IH, Elanco Animal Health, and Syngenta sponsor the American FFA Degree recognition program.
