Top 5 Tips for Building a Star Agribusiness

The four finalists for the 2020 American Star in Agribusiness run four completely different businesses, but they have one thing in common — they’re thriving. Learn what it takes to have the most successful agribusiness supervised agricultural experience (SAE) programs.

1. Find an idea you love that meets a need.

Winner Blake Kirchhoff of Blake Kirchhoff Custom Baling, Superior FFA in Nebraska: I wanted to raise sheep, but I didn’t have a square baler and couldn’t handle round bales. I bought a baler but couldn’t justify the costs of sheep and baling, so I ended up baling full-time for other people.

Hannah York, Arrowhead Acres Nursery, Caldwell County FFA in Kentucky: My ag teacher shared an SAE example of selling cornstalk bundles at local farm stores, and that’s how I started. Because I love fall, I started doing yard displays at my house and friends’ houses.

Ely Boulds, Dewey Lime Spreading, Eldorado FFA in Illinois: My idea came from some research for 4-H and FFA, and after speaking to local farmers and co-ops, I learned there was a demand for lime spreading.

Will Kellum, 47 Lawn Care LLC, Jefferson City FFA in Georgia: Lawn care was something I could do in high school. A lot of FFA members grew up on farms, but I lived on three wooded acres and later moved to a neighborhood. That’s when I saw the opportunity.

2. Research and reach out.

BK: To start, I did a lot of market research – what could I make? How many bales would earn back my money? That took a lot of time, but the research paid for itself.

HY: First, make sure you have a market and a place to sell. I talked to local farm stores and sold on Facebook.

EB: I researched equipment and made a business plan to present to the bank for loans. I met with local quarries to see if they had enough product.

WK: We called everyone we knew to get business. We handed out business cards and used social media. Making a bold statement that we were professionals was a difference maker.

3. Recognize the factors that lead to success and lean into them.

BK: I felt like my back was against the wall in an untested business with a lot of equipment. My community thought I was kind of crazy, and I was determined to prove them wrong.

HY: Support from ag teachers and my community helped a ton. The teachers keep you motivated when things aren’t going the way you want.

EB: Hard work, some great ag teachers and a great family to back me up made all the difference.

WK: Hard work – being able to work efficiently and make it look good – led to success. We didn’t have the best equipment, and we couldn’t name every shrub, but we worked hard.

4. Learn to problem solve.

BK: Getting clients was difficult. I had to take jobs I wasn’t happy with, but those people started talking to other people. Once they took me seriously, they saw things at more than face value.

HY: Time management was my biggest obstacle. I was really involved in school, but when I realized how much I loved my business, that became my priority. Find what’s most important and put that first.

EB: I was 15, and farmers weren’t sure they wanted to hire someone so young. I gave the best service I could to gain their trust.

WK: As a high school kid, you don’t have a lot of money to invest. I had to acquire a loan and spent time networking with a local small business to get a commercial mower.

5. Own your business – make it yours and enjoy the advantages of entrepreneurship.

BK: It’s important to have strong motivators. I didn’t want to fail, and it was something I was interested in. Don’t let people steer you — stay true to your roots and goals.

HY: Through my SAE, I learned I want to do this as my career. I went to college for business and horticulture and juggled that with my business because I want to grow.

EB: It has opened my eyes to what I can do. An SAE can give you a lot of opportunities later in life.

WK: There are so many benefits to being an entrepreneur. It’s important to enjoy your work and appreciate the joy of being self-employed forever.

What does it take to earn an American Star Award? Learn more here. To learn more about SAEs, visit SAEforAll.org.

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