Southern Valley FFA member finalist for national recognition

INDIANAPOLIS -- The National FFA Organization has selected 16 students from throughout the United States as finalists for its 2016 top achievement awards: American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement and American Star in Agriscience.

They include Jordan Paine of the Southern Valley FFA Chapter in Nebraska for American Star in Agriscience

The American Star Awards represent the best of the best among thousands of American FFA Degree recipients. Recognized are FFA members who have developed outstanding agricultural skills and competencies through supervised agricultural experience (SAE) programs; earned an American FFA Degree, the highest level of achievement the organization bestows upon a member; and met agricultural education, leadership and scholarship requirements.

Each star finalist receives $2,000 from the National FFA Foundation.

A panel of judges will interview finalists and select one winner for each award at the 89th National FFA Convention & Expo, Oct. 19-22, in Indianapolis. The four winners will receive an additional $2,000 and be announced at the convention and expo's third general session as part of the Stars Over America Pageant on Thursday, Oct. 20.

The American FFA Degree recognition program is sponsored by ADM Crop Risk Service, Case IH, Elanco, Farm Credit and Syngenta as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.