National FFA Organization Names 2025 American Star Finalists
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 98th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis this fall. The four winners will be announced during the convention.
Bayer, Cargill, Case IH, John Deere and Syngenta sponsor the American FFA Degree recognition program and the American Star Awards.
The finalists are:
American Star Farmer
Nathan Clark from the Locust Trace FFA Chapter in Kentucky
Brady Frascht from the Charles City FFA Chapter in Iowa
Ryder Klaassen from the Hydro-Eakly FFA Chapter in Oklahoma
Benjamin Joseph Scheresky from the Max FFA Chapter in North Dakota
American Star in Agribusiness
Nash McKenzie from the Boonville FFA Chapter in Missouri
John Buryl Neely from the Woodbury FFA Chapter in Tennessee
Blake Twenhafel from the Wescline FFA Chapter in Illinois
Trevor Wright from the Hollister-San Benito FFA Chapter in California
American Star in Agricultural Placement
Braden Compton from the Meade County FFA Chapter in Kentucky
Nevin Erbsen from the Eastland FFA Chapter in Illinois
Caldyn David Huper from the United South Central FFA Chapter in Minnesota
Amanda Osmundson from the Oakdale FFA Chapter in California
American Star in Agriscience
Delana Erbsen of the Eastland FFA Chapter in Illinois
Joanna Hamilton from the Felicity-Franklin FFA Chapter in Ohio
Matthias David Hefty from the DeKalb FFA Chapter in Indiana
Madison Perkins from the Gilmer FFA Chapter in Texas
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 with 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.
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, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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. A separately registered nonprofit organization, the foundation is governed by a board of trustees that includes the national FFA president, educators, business leaders and individual donors. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.
