While William Maltbie of Burlington, Okla., has been surrounded by agriculture all his life, he didn’t discover agricultural education and FFA until he was in eighth grade. Today, he says it was the greatest accident he ever encountered.
When the 22 year old began his first agricultural education class, he just had a push mower and a few other pieces of lawn equipment he used to take care of his neighbors’ lawns. Before long, his FFA advisor suggested he turn that into a business. Maltbie followed that advice and soon Maltbie Mowing was born, and today it is flourishing.
Maltbie’s entrepreneurial spirit has resulted in him being named a 2015 finalist for the American Star in Agribusiness award, one of the most prestigious honors awarded to a student by the National FFA Organization.
Today, Maltbie Mowing is a full-service lawn care business that serves more than 50 clients in six communities. From a turf-grass management aspect, Maltbie provides clients with customized mowing solutions. In addition to mowing, he conducts soil testing and grass analysis.
Along with having a successful lawn care service, Maltbie was active in his FFA chapter, including public speaking and agri-entrepreneurship contests. He says that thanks to FFA, he has been able to increase his knowledge of the agricultural and business sectors.
Starting his own agribusiness led Maltbie to pursue a degree in agribusiness with an option in plant and soil sciences from Oklahoma State University.
Each year at the National FFA Convention & Expo, four FFA members are honored with an American Star Award for outstanding accomplishments in FFA and agricultural education.
The American Star Awards, including the American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement and American Star in Agriscience, are awarded to FFA members who demonstrate outstanding agricultural skills and competencies through completion of a supervised agricultural experience program. A required activity in FFA, an SAE allows students to learn by doing by either owning and operating an agricultural business, working or serving an internship at an agriculture-based business or conducting an agriculture-based scientific experiment and reporting 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.
Sixteen American Star Award finalists from throughout the U.S. are nominated by a panel of judges to interview during the national convention and expo. Four are named winners and receive cash awards totaling $4,000. All American Star finalists receive a $2,000 cash award. The American Star Awards are sponsored by ADM Crop Risk Services, Case IH, Elanco, Farm Credit and Syngenta as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.
Maltbie is the son of James and Janet Maltbie. He is a member of the Burlington FFA Chapter, led by advisor Travis Bradshaw.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download