Overview      
These awards recognize the most outstanding in-school or immediate mid-year graduate State FFA Degree recipient, selected during the current year. When evaluating Star award applicants, greatest emphasis is placed on the specific enterprises related to the Star award for which the student is applying. However, the student's total program is under review and enterprises outside the Star area are also considered. [Example: The Star Farmer award is based primarily on all production enterprises, but any additional non-production enterprises are also being considered.] The placement award category (including Star Agribusiness) is for students whose family situation does not allow them to conduct an entrepreneurial SAE.

Eligibility      

• An applicant must hold the Chapter FFA degree and be elected to the State FFA Degree during the year of application for this award.
• An individual is eligible to win only one Star award: Star State Farmer, Star State Agribusiness, Star State Agriculture Placement or Star in AgriScience.
• Members may apply for the State FFA Degree one year out of high school, but are not eligible for Star awards.
• To qualify for a Star award, 33% of a student’s required hours (250 hours) or earnings ($500) must be from the Supervised Agricultural Experience programs related to that Star award category.

Award Categories      

• Star Farmer - The top applicant for the State FFA Degree conducting an outstanding supervised agricultural experience program in production agriculture, with active participation in the FFA, will be recognized with the State Star Farmer Award.
• Star in Agribusiness - The top applicant for the State FFA Degree conducting a non-production, entrepreneurial agriculture business supervised agricultural experience program, with active participation in the FFA, will be recognized with the State Star in Agribusiness Award.
• Star in Agriculture Placement - The top applicant for the State FFA Degree conducting a placement in agriculture supervised agricultural experience program, with active participation in the FFA, will be recognized with the State Star in Agricultural Placement Award. The member’s placement experience may be in the areas of production agriculture, agribusiness or a directed laboratory that is agriscience-based.
• Star in AgriScience - The top applicant for the State FFA Degree conducting an agricultural science supervised agricultural experience program, with active participation in the FFA, will be recognized with the State Star in AgriScience Award.

2018 American Star In Agribusiness Winner from Illinois      

Congratulations to Ben Curtin of the Taylorville FFA Chapter for being named the 2018 American FFA Star in Agribusiness!