MOULTRIE, Ga. — The Star Award is one of the highest honors available at the state level of FFA. Only four are named in any given year — one in each of four categories.

This year Colquitt County has finalists in two of those four categories.

Tyler Robinson, son of Brian and Traci Robinson and a senior at Colquitt County High School, has been chosen as the South Region Star Farmer for his work on his family’s row crop and produce farm. Garrett Harrell, son of Julie Harrell and also a senior at CCHS, has been chosen as the South Region State honoree in Agricultural Placement for his work at Mobley Greenhouse Investments growing tomatoes.  

Georgia has 700 FFA State Degree recipients, and each can compete to become a State Star in their specific area, said Adrienne Smith, FFA adviser at CCHS. Only three of those 700 — one from North Region, one from Central Region, and one from South Region — are selected to be the Stars in the four areas — Farmer, Placement, Business, and Agriscience.  

These 12 students are considered to have the best projects in all of Georgia in the FFA, Smith said, and this is the first time Colquitt County has had two Stars in one year.  

In addition to the State Star competition, both Robinson and Harrell will compete with their projects at the state competition in April.

Robinson is a state qualifier with his Fruit Production Proficiency project, and  Harrell, who was a national winner this past October in Vegetable Production, is also a state finalist in Agricultural Processing.

“When a student really takes ownership for their opportunities in the FFA, their possibilities are endless,” Smith said. “Garrett and Tyler are a great example for younger students of what you can do if you stay committed and work hard in FFA.”