INDIANAPOLIS — A Colquitt County student is among 16 from throughout the United States who were selected this week by the National FFA Organization as finalists for its 2019 top achievement awards: American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement and American Star in Agriscience.

William Wynn of Moultrie is one of three Georgians in the finalists. All will compete in different categories.

The American Star Awards represent the best of the best among thousands of American FFA Degree recipients, according to a press release from the national FFA office. The award recognizes FFA members who have developed outstanding agricultural skills and competencies through the completion of a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program. A required activity in FFA, an SAE allows members to learn by doing. Members can own and operate an agricultural business, intern at an agricultural business or conduct an agriculture-based scientific experiment and report the results.

Other requirements to achieve the award include demonstrating top management skills; completing key agricultural education, scholastic and leadership requirements; and earning an American FFA Degree, the organization’s highest level of student accomplishment.

A panel of judges will interview finalists and select one winner for each award at the 92nd National FFA Convention & Expo, Oct. 30- Nov. 2 in Indianapolis. The four winners will be announced during an onstage ceremony on Friday, Nov. 1.

Case IH, Elanco Animal Health and Syngenta sponsor the American FFA Degree recognition program.

The finalists include:

American Star Farmer

• Todd Peterson of Sabina, Ohio.

• Garret Talcott of Bennet, Neb.

• Nicholas Torrance of Macomb, Ill.

• Willis Wolf of Merced, Calif.

American Star in Agribusiness

• Blake Kennedy of Tecumseh, Okla.

• Hadden Powell of Montrose, Ga.

• Blake Quiggins of Horse Cave, Ky.

• Luke Scott of Bucyrus, Ohio.

American Star in Agricultural Placement

• Nicole Harder of Hooper, Wash.

• Cole Riggin of Pittsburg, Kan.

• Andrew Streff of Salem, S.D.

• William Wynn of Moultrie, Ga.

American Star in Agriscience

• Courtney Cameron of Valdosta, Ga.

• Kacie Haag of Emington, Ill.

• Amelia Hayden of Sharon, Wisc.

• Olivia Pflaumer of Chillicothe, Ohio.

Visit FFA.org/Stars for more information about the American Star Awards.

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 669,989 student members who belong to one of 8,630 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization is also supported by 459,514 alumni members in 2,236 alumni chapters throughout the U.S.