INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Oct. 25, 2024/National FFA Organization) – Moriarty High School graduate and FFA member Wylie Schwebach has been named American Star in Agricultural Placement during an onstage ceremony today at the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo held in Indianapolis, Ind.

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 an SAE program. An SAE is a required activity in FFA, and it 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.

Since starting at his family’s business, Schwebach’s LLC, in 2018, Schwebach has increasingly mastered more complex duties and gained leadership experience while identifying and solving inefficiencies. Due to his knowledge of maintenance and repair, Schwebach has saved the farm 48% on transportation costs, labor costs and time. A resident of Moriarty High School and member of the Moriarity FFA chapter, Schwebach showed leadership on his 2,500-acre irrigated farm in central New Mexico as part of his SAE.

“My personal growth in each position contributed to my understanding of the importance of each job duty and how it all adds to the operation,” said Schwebach. “These qualities are of value in my pursuit of farm ownership and operation.”

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.

 About the American Star Awards
Each year at the National FFA Convention & Expo, four FFA members are honored with American Star Awards for outstanding accomplishments in FFA and agricultural education.

The American Star Awards, including American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement and American Star in Agriscience, are presented to FFA members who demonstrate outstanding agricultural skills and competencies through completion of an SAE. A required activity in FFA, an SAE allows students to learn by doing, by either owning or operating an agricultural business, working or serving an internship at an agriculture-based business, or conducting an agriculture-based scientific experiment and reporting 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.

Sixteen American Star Award finalists from throughout the U.S. were nominated by a panel of judges, who interviewed the finalists this fall. Four were named winners during this year’s 97th National FFA Convention & Expo, which was held in Indianapolis. Winners received cash awards. Cargill, Case IH, John Deere and Syngenta sponsor the American FFA Degree recognition program and the American Star Awards.

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 1,027,200 student members as part of 9,235 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,027,200 student members as part of 9,235 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.