INDIANAPOLIS – Lizzie Schafer, of Taylorville High School in Illinois, dreamed all her life of wearing a blue corduroy jacket symbolizing her involvement with FFA. When she received hers while in junior high school, she proudly carried it through the halls of the school and eagerly waited for her time to compete in her first official contest.

Fast forward a few years, and Schafer is one of 16 finalists for the National FFA Organization’s top achievement awards. She will compete against three others for the title of American Star in Agriscience at the FFA’s 97th national convention in the fall.

Among other American Star finalists, announced July 19, are Landon Haney, from the Arcanum-Miami Valley Career Technology Center chapter in Ohio, in agribusiness, and Ty Steffen, from the Newark, Ill., chapter, for farmer. The fourth American Star category is agricultural placement.

The American Star awards represent the best of the best among thousands of American FFA Degree recipients, a spokeswoman for the organization said. The award recognizes FFA members who have developed outstanding agricultural skills and competencies by completing a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program, the spokeswoman said.

Schafer said becoming an American Star finalist was a dream she had aspired to achieve.

“I was ecstatic to be able to reach this goal because I have dreamed of being a finalist since I was 8 years old,” she told Farm World. “This achievement was the last FFA goal that I finally got to cross off of my bucket list and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to represent my chapter and state at this level.”

Over six years, she completed five bovine research projects to become a Star Over America in Agriscience finalist. One of the projects – determining if the quality grade of a bovine IVF embryo can dictate or predict the sex of the resulting calf – earned first place at the National FFA Convention.

Schafer was raised on a grain and livestock farm, and her mother has been an FFA adviser at Taylorville High School. Her parents and older brother were in FFA.

“I knew that this organization could open doors of opportunity that are unmatched by any other,” she explained. “Being in FFA has allowed me to build my skills and develop as a person. I have grown tremendously over these last seven years and I have learned the importance of always playing every card in your deck and remembering where you come from.”

Schafer will major in animal science and ag communications at Kansas State University. She eventually plans to return to the family farm to build the cattle herd and run the grain operation.

Haney was 14 when he began the project – Haney’s Mowing & Landscaping – that led to him being named a finalist in agribusiness.

“What initially started out as a young kid push mowing lawns and mulching out of the back of his great-grandma’s pickup truck quickly evolved to an operation that offers a wide range of services in the lawn and landscaping industry,” he explained to Farm World. “From grass mowing to mulching, seeding, concrete and hardscape – and much more – we work to provide our customers both commercially and residentially exactly what they need to make their space perfect.”

He said being named a finalist is an opportunity of a lifetime.

While in high school, Haney served as state secretary, and later served two terms as state president. He was a part of the team that finished first in the state in grain merchandising and farm business management.

While president, he began an event within the chapter called “Farm on the Lawn.” The event allowed FFA chapter members to bring animals, equipment and plants to the school lawn to show what members and their families do outside of school.

Haney graduated from Edison State Community College in Ohio this past spring with a degree in agribusiness. He grew up on his family’s grain farm and plans to work to take over the farm while continuing his mowing and landscaping business.

“FFA teaches you skills in multiple areas that will carry with you forever,” he said. “With simple communication skills to business and hands on opportunities, to mention a few, is what benefits me. However, having a leadership type role and being able to work with our chapter has led me to be a great individual to my friends and family, but even a better boss.”

For his SAE, Steffen grows six acres of pumpkins, plus half an acre of gourds and broom corn. He also has more than 6,000 gladiolus corms (individual plants), cut flowers he uses in bouquets, and 1,600 potted mums. He has a vegetable garden and raises honeybees.

“I sell most of my crops at various farmers markets in the area, in addition to having an honor hay rack system to sell my pumpkins,” he told Farm World. “Another unique aspect of my SAE is the showing of my gladiolus. I have shown at county and state fairs and even internationally online. All of these crops make a busy full season for me.”

Steffen’s father is an ag teacher at the school Ty attended, Newark Community High School. The younger Steffen joined FFA when he was in the 8th grade. He was a chapter officer every year, including serving as president his senior year.

“I grew up with FFA and it was a no-brainer to join as soon as I could,” he said. “I was not raised on a traditional farm in any way, but still in a rural farming community. Both of my parents were in FFA.

“FFA has affected me in far too many ways to list out. If you know me, you would know that I am very introverted, and that I definitely would not go out of my way to start a conversation. FFA has given me the opportunity to overcome what some may consider a downfall or obstacle. An example of this really came into play last summer when I had the privilege to attend FFA Leadership camp. This camp not only taught me many essential leadership skills, but allowed me to network and connect with other FFA members across the state of Illinois that I still talk to today.”

Steffen graduated from high school in 2023, and will begin his sophomore year this fall at Joliet Junior College. He plans to transfer to Illinois State University at the end of this school year. He’s studying agriculture business. After college, he wants to return to his SAE and make it his career.