FFA Proceedings 2002

★
Stars Over America
6
It’s the ‘Sweet 16’ of the National FFA Organization. To many it’s better known as the Stars Over America
Pageant. The presentation features the top supervised agricultural experience programs (SAEs) in the
nation in the areas of Star Farmer, Star in Agribusiness, Star in Agricultural Placement and Star in
Agriscience.
Star Farmer
As the highest recognition in the nation for an aspiring young production agriculturalist, the Star Farmer
award recognizes achievement in both career and leadership development.
Karlene Lindow of Chili, Wis., made FFA history as the first-ever female Star Farmer.
Jason Masters
Shenandoah FFA
Shirley, Indiana
Masters’ earliest agribusiness ventures
began at age 9 when he
acquired his own checkbook and
six acres of ground. Beginning
his SAE in 1995, Masters was
able to learn management skills,
increase his acreage and develop
equipment inventory. He now
has more than 618 acres in production
and has become familiar
with every piece of equipment on
the farm.
STARS PHOTOS BY SAM HARREL
★
Karlene Lidow
Marshfield FFA
Chili, Wisconsin
Lindow strives to raise top quality breeding stock and show barrows through
her SAE. She also knows that farming is hard work and full of risks. Three
years ago, she decided to take a risk of her own and raise Spotted Poland
China swine. This minor breed was having a hard time in the industry, but
she wanted to make a difference. Her hard work paid off, and now Lindow is
breeding and selecting the type of herd she wants to raise.
Anthony Heigert
Wabaunsee FFA
Paxico, Kansas
Heigert currently farms 1,825
acres, which is an increase from
the 400 acres he started with in
1996. He plants corn, soybeans,
wheat, milo and sudan grass.
Over the last two years, he convinced
his landlords that no-till
was the way to farm. The grain
he produces is now stored in bins
to feed his cows and calves.
Heigert has developed his own
successful cow/calf operation and
purchased his own land to produce
feed.
Rachel Bobbitt
Deer Creek-Lamont FFA
Lamont, Oklahoma
★
Bobbitt is farming 150 acres of
cropland, rotating wheat and
milo along with seven acres of
hay. She also raised 34 registered
Red Angus cows and bulls and
13 head of sheep. With her profits,
she expanded her SAEs and
used the money earned to pay for
college. Through the skills that
agricultural education and FFA
has given her, Bobbitt is confident
she can be successful and
meet the challenges of the agricultural
field.