Four Minnesota FFA students were recognized April 29 as FFA Stars at the 90^th state FFA Convention in Minneapolis.

The Minnesota FFA Association named Katherine Moller as the 2019 Minnesota FFA Star Farmer; Emma Friauf, Minnesota FFA Star in Production Placement; Daniel Williamson, Minnesota FFA Star in Agriscience; and Morgan Olson, Minnesota FFA Star in Agribusiness.

Star Farmer

Moller, a Princeton FFA member, is a partner of Heritage Cattle Co. with her parents. In 2014, she began a small flock of breeding birds before expanding to rabbits and beef cattle.

After years of raising, breeding and showing, Moller gained 10% ownership of 175 cattle, 172 acres and two facility locations when she was 15 years old. Today, she owns 25 cows, one bull and 40 younger animals.

“Making management decisions, caring for animals, and working on marketing and sales has developed my entrepreneurial passion and future career path,” Moller said.

STAR FARMER: Katherine Moller is a Princeton FFA Member and the 2019 Minnesota FFA Star Farmer.

The 2019 award winner also exhibits her cattle at county and state fairs, improving her cattle genetics every year.

Moller attends the University of Northwestern in St. Paul, where she majors in marketing and graphic design. In the future, she plans to work in agriculture or have a business raising quality livestock.

Star in Production Placement

Friauf, a Hutchinson FFA member, began her experience at a local dairy farm, where she is responsible for milking cows, feeding calves, heifers and bulls, and working in the maternity pen.

Throughout her supervised agricultural experience, Friauf learned how to register, tag and vaccinate animals. In an SAE program, students are supervised by agricultural education teachers in cooperation with parents, employers and other adults, who assist them in the development and achievement of their educational and career goals.

Friauf also operates equipment on the farm to assist with caring for her livestock.

She is active in the McLeod County 4-H showing dairy cattle and frequently volunteers at her church.

PRODUCTION PLACEMENT: Emma Friauf, a Hutchinson FFA member, is the 2019 Minnesota FFA Star in Production Placement.

In the fall of 2019, Friauf plans to attend South Dakota State University in Brookings, where she will major in dairy production. After college, she hopes to work alongside Minnesota dairy farmers.

The Hutchinson FFA chapter is led by agricultural education teachers and advisors Scott Marshall and Steven Lammers.

Star in Agriscience

For Williamson, an Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City FFA member, agriscience has been an important part of his FFA career for many years at both the state and national level.

His SAE involved testing water for nitrates and phosphates, as well as growing algae.

He assists on his father’s organic farm, raising sheep and cattle. He is also responsible for a herd of goats, which he raises independently.

Aside from his agriscience work, Williamson is involved in 4-H, student council, National Honors Society, theater, speech and track.

AGRISCIENCE STAR: Daniel Williamson, a Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City FFA member, is the 2019 Minnesota FFA Star in Agriscience.

Williamson plans to attend South Dakota State University to study agricultural science. In the future, he plans to have a career in either animal or plant science.

The Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City FFA chapter is led by agricultural education teacher and advisor Madeline Schultz.

Star in Agribusiness

Olson, a Sebeka FFA member, works with his family’s business where he focuses mainly on feed production.

“When I’m not in our mill I’m driving semi, applying [crop protection tools] in the spring and running our corn dryer during the fall,” Olson said. He recently received his commercial driver’s license and is currently working toward his commercial applicator’s license.

From the beginning, Olson has enjoyed helping his relatives run equipment on the farm and has been able to take that passion one step further in the family business.

“Working for my dad, I’ve developed good financial habits, and good leadership and cooperative skills,” he said.

AGRIBUSINESS STAR: Morgan Olson,a Sebeka FFA member, is the 2019 Minnesota FFA Star in Agribusiness.

Aside from his work at the feed mill, Olson serves as president of the Sebeka FFA Chapter and is involved in his high school’s concert, jazz and pep bands.

Olson plans to attend a technical college in the fall to pursue a degree in business management.

The Sebeka FFA chapter is led by agricultural education teacher and advisor Jacob Oyster.

Each year, 16 state finalists — four in each category — vie for the association’s top awards: Star Farmer, Star in Agribusiness, Star in Production Placement and Star in Agriscience. These awards honor students who have developed outstanding agricultural skills through their SAE and earned the FFA State Degree. The 2019 FFA Stars over Minnesota recognition program is sponsored by Compeer Financial Services as a special project of the Minnesota FFA Foundation.

Source: Minnesota FFA, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.