The Stuart FFA Chapter looks forward to the upcoming State FFA Convention to be held April 1st – 3rd in Lincoln.  Numerous members will be recognized with awards for their efforts throughout the past year and in developing exceptional individual programs.

Eight FFA members from the Stuart Chapter will be recipients of the State FFA Degree.  The State FFA Degree is the highest degree the state bestows upon its members.  Those who will be receiving this honor are Logan Hipke, son of Lloyd & Vencille Hipke, Lacey Heller, daughter of Leon and Jan Heller, Jake Paxton, son of Dale Paxton and Sonya Paxton, Kyle Dvorak, son of Tom and Peggy Dvorak, Brittany Neibauer, daughter of Randy Neibauer and Pam Neibauer, Megan Olson, daughter of Tim and Vicki Olson, Jerad Murphy, son of Jerome and Beth Murphy, and James Meusch, son of Kurt and Laura Meusch.

The Stuart FFA Chapter is pleased to announce Jake Paxton and James Meusch have been selected as State Star Finalists respectively in the areas of Agricultural Placement and Agricultural Production.  Jake and James were initially selected as District X Stars following their state degree interviews.  Their applications and records were then forwarded for state competition amongst other District Star recipients.  Twenty-four state star finalists were then selected to represent Nebraska in the Stars Over Nebraska program to be held at the upcoming state convention.  These members and their parents will be recognized at Pershing Auditorium on April 3rd during the Stars Over Nebraska program. 

This program will recognize the top twenty-four individuals from across the state for their excellence in developing an outstanding Supervised Agricultural Experience Program.  Four individuals will be named “Stars Over Nebraska” in their respective programs of Agribusiness, Ag Placement, Ag Production and Agriscience.

In addition, the Stuart FFA Chapter has five members who have been selected as proficiency finalists in six areas.  Jerad Murphy, son of Jerome and Beth Murphy has been named a finalist in the area of Ag Mechanics – Design and Fabrication, Becky Ramm, daughter of Rose Ramm will compete in the area of Small Animal Production and Care, and Kyle Dvorak, son of Tom and Peggy Dvorak is a finalist in the area of Forage Placement.  In addition, Jake Paxton, son of Dale Paxton and Sonya Paxton has claimed finalist honors in the areas of Equine Entrepreneurship and Equine Placement and Logan Hipke, son of Lloyd and Vencille will compete in the area of Diversified Agricultural Placement.

The state star and proficiency finalists will undergo interviews in Lincoln as they vie to be Nebraska’s state stars and proficiency winners.  The student’s FFA advisors are Monty Larsen and Patty Hanzlik.