INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, July 10, 2026/National FFA Organization) – The National FFA Organization has announced the 16 finalists for its 2026 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 99th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis this fall. The four winners will be announced during the convention.

Bayer, Cargill, Case IH, Domino’s, John Deere, Rabobank and Syngenta sponsor the American FFA Degree recognition program and the American Star Awards.

The finalists are:

American Star Farmer
Bailee Amstutz from the North Union FFA Chapter in Ohio
Kaleb James Ellis from the Cochrane-Fountain City FFA Chapter in Wisconsin
Cooper Kline from the North Rock Creek FFA Chapter in Oklahoma
Justin Myers from the Forreston FFA Chapter in Illinois

American Star in Agribusiness
Benjamin Biros from the Seneca FFA Chapter in Illinois
Luke Brand Schilling of the Eastern Hancock FFA Chapter in Indiana
Wesley Thomas Winch of the Fennimore FFA Chapter in Wisconsin
Jose Yepez of the Greenville FFA Chapter in Texas

American Star in Agricultural Placement
Jaron Black from the Streator FFA Chapter in Illinois
Jamin Miles from the Appling County FFA Chapter in Georgia
Landon Roling from the McCook Central FFA Chapter in South Dakota
Noah Thomas Wiley from the Labette County FFA Chapter in Kansas

American Star in Agriscience
Sarah Beck from the Corsicana FFA Chapter in Texas
Lauren Roling from the McCook Central FFA Chapter in South Dakota
Tessa Tauke from the Beckman Catholic FFA Chapter in Iowa
Jose A. Villanos from the LaRue County FFA Chapter in Kentucky

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 1,042,245 student members as part of 9,407 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 1,042,245 student members as part of 9,407 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.