Hoosier Competes for American Star in Agribusiness
Published: Friday, July 31, 2026
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. Among the finalists is one Indiana youth.
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 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 and Expo in Indianapolis this fall. The four winners will be announced during the convention.
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, and 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, and 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, and Tessa Tauke from the Beckman Catholic FFA Chapter in Iowa, Jose A. Villanos from the LaRue County FFA Chapter in Kentucky.
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