National FFA Organization names 2025 American Star Finalists

The National FFA Organization has announced the 16 finalists for its 2025 top achievement awards: American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement, and American Star in Agriscience.

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 98th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis this fall. The four winners will be announced during the convention.

The finalists are:

• 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