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Indiana FFA names Stars

The Indiana FFA has named its state “Stars”.

Brandi Adkins from the Rushville FFA Chapter received this year’s Star in Agricultural Placement.  Adkins has a passion for veterinary medicine since 2013 has spent time working at her local veterinary office.  The Star in Agricultural Placement recognizes the member with the best placement Supervised Ag Experience program and leadership skills.

Blake Danner form the Frontier FFA Chapter was named the Indiana FFA State Star Farmer. His love of the livestock industry started at an early age through his family’s business Purple Power Boar Stud.  Danner developed his own business of raising and selling show pigs.  Today, he owns 27 sows and 3 boars, and has sold semen and pigs to 24 different states.  The Star Farmer award recognizes the FFA member with the top production agriculture SAE.

Emily Kilmer of the Tri-County FFA Chapter was named this year’s Indiana FFA State Star in Agriscience.  Kilmer has completed three experiments focused on wind turbine blades, turbidity in water due to various soil types, and the impact of tilling methods and water turbidity in surface water ditches.  Her research has helped impact tillage practice decisions made by farmers in her area.  The Star in Agriscience recognizes the student with a SAE program that is actively engaged in research and experimentation.

Robert Armstrong of the Franklin FFA Chapter is the 2017 Indiana FFA State Star in Agribusiness.  Armstrong grew up on a small family farm outside of Indianapolis where he now raises honey bees, markets products from his hive, and sells beekeeping supplies like woodware and lives bees.  He manages 11 production colonies and 10 nucleus colonies.  The Star in Agribusiness recognizes the best non-production entrepreneurial agribusiness SAE and proven leadership skills.

Each of the State Stars will also receive a scholarship sponsored by the Jeff Lehman Family.