Ethan Sacket of the Fairview FFA Chapter in Oklahoma and his brother were the ones neighbors went to when they wanted their lawn mowed in their hometown. Those endeavors expanded into a fully functioning landscaping and lawn care business. He owns a zero-turn mower, two push mowers, two weed eaters, a leaf blower, lawn tools, and a trailer to haul equipment. Sacket has also learned invaluable lessons about business management and customer service. He is supported by his parents, Ruth and Gary, and his FFA advisors, Jerrod Lundry and Vince McGolden. This award is sponsored by John Deere and Tractor Supply Company.

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For most of his life, Caleb Sloan McMillan of the Wilson Creek FFA Chapter in Washington has been training horses for rodeos and other equine events.  He has trained for steer wrestling, calf roping and team roping.  When he began learning about horses, his duties were restricted to feeding.  Today, he manages all aspects of the operation, including feeding, medical checkups, fencing and tagging.  McMillan is supported by his parents, Lynette and Mark, and his FFA advisor, Scott Mortimer.  This award is sponsored by Red Brand.

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Nole Gerfen of the Ridgemont FFA Chapter in Mt. Victory, Ohio, purchased his first gilt at the age of 9 and today owns 25 sows that farrow two and a half times each year, producing 11 pigs per litter. On his farm, he is charged with synchronizing sows, ultrasounding, the administration and recording of medication and more. In addition to his own sows, he manages his parents’ 2,480 sows. Gerfen is supported by his parents, Kim and Steve, and his FFA advisor, Stephanie Jolliff. This award is sponsored by LA-CO Markal.

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William Murdock Wynn of the Colquitt County FFA Chapter in Norman Park, Ga., works on his family’s farrow-to-wean operation that has grown to 2,500 sows. He manages the breeding of the sows, cares for them during gestation and farrowing, and then cares for the pigs until they are weaned at 21 days of age and shipped to a nursery. Wynn knows so much about the operation that he is now able to train new employees. He is supported by his parents, Penny and Ronnie, and his FFA advisors, Adrienne Smith, Stacy Beacham, Steve Bass and Gene Hart. This award is sponsored by Provimi North America, Inc.

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Hunter Ethan Corbett of the Lowndes County FFA Chapter in Valdosta, Ga., has an SAE comprised of five research projects conducted over five years.  He used the scientific method to solve environmental problems by proving a waste agricultural product known as cotton gin trash could have completely cleaned up the 2015 BP Oil Spill.  Corbett plans to use these research skills and experiences to earn a medical degree in noninvasive cardiology at Emory University in Atlanta.  He is supported by his parents, Tracy and James, and his FFA advisors, James Corbett, Michael Barnes and Quinton Hadsock. This award is sponsored by the National FFA Foundation and National FFA Organization.

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Wade S. Reiter of the Dinwiddie Senior FFA Chapter in Virginia works for his family farming operation. His jobs include assisting with cutting and baling hay, loading wagons, and stacking hay in the barn. He’s responsible for checking the hay in order to cut it at the proper stage, as well as observing weather reports. The hay is sold to local livestock and horse owners, in addition to local retailers and larger accounts, such as Southern States. Reiter is supported by his parents, Naomi and James, and his FFA advisors, Cindy Blaha and Laurel Bishop. This award is sponsored by the National FFA Foundation and the National FFA Organization.

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Mary Kaitlyn Wheeler of the East Laurens FFA Chapter in East Dublin, Ga, processes honey from 15 hives in her apiary.  Producing enough honey to let her process twice a year, she waits until 95 percent of the honeycomb on the frames have been filled to begin the endeavor.  Wheeler sells the honey in mason jars, sanitizing and washing her processing equipment to ensure a safe, delicious final product.  She is supported by her parents, Rebecca and Richard, and her FFA advisor, Kyle Harris. This award is sponsored by CHS.

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Joel Micheal Huff of the Benton Central FFA Chapter in Oxford, Ind., has an SAE that focuses on the production of Belgian draft horses for breeding and show purposes.  Working for his grandparents, he helps the operation breed 12 mares each year and produce 30 acres of hay.  Huff hopes to take over the family operation in the future.  He is supported by his parents, Michelle and Lee, and his FFA advisor, Amanda Mullins. This award is sponsored by Tractor Supply Company.

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Zachary Olson of the Adams Friendship FFA Chapter in Wisconsin works for his brother’s lawn care business, performing tasks like mowing, raking and fall cleanup.  When his brother left for college, he took on more responsibility that included learning how to lay brick, construct retaining walls, install underground irrigation systems and hydroseed.  Olson is supported by his parents, Donna and Brian, and his FFA advisor, Becky Grabarski. This award is sponsored by The Toro Company and Wilbur-Ellis Company.

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Austin Daniel Weaver of the Strasburg FFA Chapter in Virginia has a supervised agricultural experience of several components – each circling around the idea that the public should be taught about agriculture.  He developed a partnership with eight kindergarten classes to present monthly lessons about agriculture.  He facilitated a PALS program for a fifth-grade class.  And finally, he worked at Cornell University as a student assistant for the New York Ag in the Classroom program.  Weaver is supported by his parents, Kathleen and Reuben, and his FFA advisors, Brian Fisher and Abbi Copp. This award is sponsored by The James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation and Tulsa Welding School.

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