BUCYRUS — The American Degree is the highest achievable degree an FFA member can achieve, but one local high school graduate continues to receive national attention even after obtaining the agriculture organization’s highest honor.
Luke Scott, a 2017 graduate of Wynford High School, is a finalist for an American Star Award through the National FFA Organization.
Just 16 individuals nationwide were named as finalists for four categories: American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement, and American Star in Agriscience.
Scott is one of four finalists for the American Star in Agribusiness award.
Luke Scott Farms and Custom Applications is a fully-operational independent business. Scott said he files separately with the U.S. Department or Agriculture and the Farm Service Agency.
But it all began as a young teenager while helping on the family farm.
Scott said he began his involvement in the agriculture business by helping his dad and grandpa with the family farm operations and selling firewood. He then started taking calves to the Crawford County Fair.
He said his interest continued to grow and he decided to purchase 36 acres to use as his own farming operation and now farms approximately 140 acres.
He saw more opportunities and continued to grow.
An ATV with a spraying unit attached was his next purchase. He became a certified applicator and upgraded his equipment to be able to contract with other area farmers for spraying operations.
He also continued his firewood business throughout the process and now serves customers in Crawford, Marion, Richland and Wyandot counties.
Scott not only continued to grow his business, but also continued his education. He attended the University of Northwestern Ohio in Lima and achieved his Associates Degree in Agricultural Business and Marketing Technologies.
He said continuing to focus on ag-based education was one factor in pushing him to achieve his American Degree, a requirement to receive any of the American Star awards. He said FFA was his focus as he did not play sports in high school.
“It was kind of my football career, I guess, my FFA career,” Scott said. “So, I pushed and, after I graduated, I continued to do well in proficiencies, so I continued to push and fill out the applications and do the book work.”
A great deal of credit was given to his FFA advisors, Mike Hoffman and Tessa Martin.
“They were certainly a huge driving factor in this award area that pushed me to do all the applications and put in the long hours,” Scott said.
After putting in so much work, Scott said he is very proud to be named a finalist for the award.
“To me, it’s a really big deal because, not playing sports or anything, this is kind of like my state championship, even farther now than state,” Scott said. “It’s a really big honor and I’ve got to thank my parents and my ag teachers for pushing me along.
“I’ve always had this goal in mind and didn’t know whether I’d get there or not, but I tried my hardest and invested everything into my operation and it’s worked out.”
Regardless if he receives the award or not, Scott said he hopes to take the experience and use it to help the future members of the Wynford FFA chapter and to possibly join some committees to help young participants in the Crawford County Jr. Fair.
He also agreed with a smile that being a finalist for the award helps his résumé to continue working with his dad on the family farm and to someday take over that operation as well.
“It’s a real honor to get to work alongside him,” Scott said.
Two other Ohians were named finalists for American Star awards:
Todd Peterson, Sabina, OH – American Star Farmer award nominee
Olivia Pflaumer, Chillicothe, OH – American Star in Agriscience award nominee
According to the National FFA Organization, “The American Star Awards represents the best of the best among thousands of American FFA Degree recipients. 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.”
The finalists will be interviewed by a panel of judges and the winners will be announced during the 92nd National FFA Convention and Expo. The event is Oct. 30 – Nov. 2 in Indianapolis.
The four winners will be announced during an onstage ceremony Nov. 1.