INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, July 20, 2022/National FFA Organization) – The National FFA Organization has announced the 16 finalists for its 2022 top achievement awards: American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement and American Star in Agriscience.

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 95th National FFA Convention & Expo, held in Indianapolis this fall. The four winners will be announced during the convention.

Case IH, Elanco Animal Health, Pepsico Inc., and Syngenta sponsor the American FFA Degree recognition program.

The finalists include:

 American Star Farmer
Peter Bliss from the Merced-Golden Valley FFA Chapter in California
Blake Frascht from the Charles City FFA Chapter in Iowa
Zane Hagemeyer from the Elmwood FFA Chapter in Ohio
Emily Makos from the FFA Juda Chapter in Wisconsin

American Star in Agribusiness
Terrance Crayton from the Wetumpka FFA Chapter in Alabama
Kaitlyn Hart from the Colquitt County FFA Chapter in Georgia
Cotton Booker the from Colfax FFA Chapter in Washington
Haden Handley from the Buffalo FFA Chapter in West Virginia

American Star in Agricultural Placement
Case Edwards from the Wetumpka FFA Chapter in Alabama
Cory Yarbrough from the Madison County High School FFA Chapter in Georgia
Jacob Wuebker from the Versailles FFA Chapter in Ohio
Emma Victery from the Chickasha FFA Chapter in Oklahoma

American Star in Agriscience
Danae Westra from Visalia-Central Valley Christian FFA Chapter in California
Marin Lonnee from Oconee County High FFA Chapter in Georgia
Sydney Hefty from the Dekalb FFA Chapter in Indiana
Ryan Hess from the Stephenville FFA Chapter in 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 735,000 student members as part of 8,817 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 735,000 student members as part of 8,817 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

# # #

About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 735,000 student members as part of 8,817 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook and Twitter.

About National FFA Foundation
The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations, and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders, and support the future of agricultural education. Governed by a 19-member board of trustees composed of educators, business leaders, individual donors and FFA Alumni, the foundation is a separately registered nonprofit organization. About 82 percent of every dollar received by the foundation supports FFA members and agricultural education opportunities. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.