VERSAILLES, Ohio – Some farmers concentrate on diversified grain. Others prefer tending to livestock. Ohio FFA member Jacob Wuebker took on both areas of farming and proved proficient at it.

Wuebker’s efforts paid huge dividends as he was named the 2022 Star in Agricultural Placement at the 95th annual National FFA Convention in Indianapolis.

Wuebker, the son of Jeff and Dena Wuebker of Versailles, is a member of the Versailles FFA. He is one of just four FFA members in the nation who were honored with American Star Awards for outstanding accomplishments in FFA and agricultural education.

“I’ve had tremendous help from my parents and advisors,” Jacob said. “My dad has taught me everything I know about farming and agriculture. I’ve always looked up to him and he’s someone I’ve aspired to be like one day. My mom is actually my ag teacher. Definitely a big thanks to her. Whenever you live on a farm and your mom’s your ag teacher, agriculture kind of consumes your whole life. She has inspired me to take every opportunity that I can and try things that I think I wouldn’t enjoy. For example, I engaged in FFA ag sales and I didn’t think I’d like that but found I enjoyed it a lot.”

Setting him up for this honor was his Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). The SAE allows FFA students to apply what they have learned in the classroom in a real-world setting.

“My SAE consisted of working on my family’s diversified grain and livestock farm, learning all aspects of our farm,” Jacob said. “On the swine side of things, I worked on the sow unit, helping feed them, breeding them, processing piglets as well as moving sows and piglets. On the steer side of things, I worked at making feed, feeding and bedding.”

When it came to grain, Jacob worked from planting all the way through harvest season.

“The SAE was a natural for me as I’ve grown up on this farm,” he said. “We farm around 1,200 acres and have row crops consisting of corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa. We have 2,000 sows, 300 head of dairy steers and we finish out about 3,000 head of pigs at a time.

“One of my biggest challenges is realizing some things are out of my control, especially when it comes to Mother Nature. There’s a lot to be concerned with, like getting a crop planted or taking it out of the field. I’ve learned to sit back and realize it’s out of my control.”

Jacob encourages other FFA members to find their passion and to not let anyone discourage them from doing something they love.

“Whenever you find your passion, you are able to dedicate your life to something greater than you,” Jacob said. “I’ve learned that you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to. I also learned that when I start things, I need to see them all the way through until that task is finished.”

After graduating from Wright State University-Lake Campus last spring with a degree in agribusiness, Wuebker went home to farm fulltime in his family’s operation. He said he has no plans to stop because he loves what he does every day. He believes farming gives him a sense of purpose and that motivates him through even the most grueling days of work.

“FFA has been a large part of my life,” Jacob said. “I was a timid eighth grader and the FFA helped bring me out of my shell and helped me experience things I never thought that I would. FFA helped me make connections all across the state and nation. I want to continue to grow my knowledge while expanding this operation, to make it more sustainable for the next generation.”

Jacob’s sister, Laura, was named the winner of the Agricultural Communication-Entrepreneurship/Placement National Proficiency Award. Laura works for WGTR radio station as a co-farm news director. In this position, she informs listeners about agricultural-related topics through researching stories and broadcasting them. She contacts 10 local grain elevators and collects the grain markets along with creating and broadcasting a weather forecast.

“It’s outstanding to see the accomplishments of young farmers recognized for their hard work,” said Cheryl Day, executive vice president of the Ohio Pork Council. “They grew up on their family’s diversified farm, where their passion for the agriculture industry was first established. We are honored to have them as active members in our industry.”