By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent

FRANKFORT, Ky. — As FFA members from all over the country head to Indianapolis, two from Kentucky will be vying for National FFA Stars Over America awards.

This marks the second year in a row that has happened with this year’s honors going to James Lyons of Scott County and Jared Hodskins of Owensboro.

Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer wished them well in a statement saying, “I know both of these young men will represent Kentucky agriculture well at the National FFA Convention. I encourage all Kentuckians to join me in wishing them well.”
Lyons, a finalist in the Star Farmer category is scheduled to graduate from the University of Kentucky in December with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture economics and a minor in animal science.

“This has been a goal I’ve had since I started FFA and now that I’ve gotten there, it has made me understand that hard work pays off,” he said.

The American Star Farmer award is considered the highest recognition for an aspiring young farmer recognizing achievement in both career and leadership development, according to information from the National FFA. Of the four finalists named in the competition, the award goes to the FFA member with the top production agriculture program each year.

The winner will receive $2,000, a plaque and a medal. The three runners up will receive $1,000 and a plaque.

Lyons’ farm consists of 440 total acres of which 270 are rented. He also raises 71 feeder cattle and 14 beef cows, and has half interest, with his father, in 60 head of replacement heifers. Lyons raises 68 acres of corn, 35 acres of alfalfa, 20 acres of soybeans and eight acres of tobacco. He also sells 5,000 square bales of hay annually.

“I wouldn’t be where I am if it hadn’t been for FFA. They have encouraged me to try and become a full time farmer,” said Lyons. “It’s hard to make a living farming anymore. I think that is one thing I’ve gained through FFA, the confidence that I can do it. I believe in myself and believe in the people around me that it can be done.”

And that is just what Lyons intends to do after graduating from college saying he needs to be able to change his operations as the farming environment dictates change. Lyons said it is his education that has opened up many ideas to him in running the farm.

Hodskins is a finalist in the Star in Agribusiness award, which is FFA’s highest honor for someone pursuing a career in agribusiness. His lawn care business has grown steadily over the past few years so much so it has earned him the chance to win this top award at the national conference.

Hodskins is an Apollo High School graduated and also a graduate of Daymar College with a degree in criminal justice. But the lawn care business has kept him busy since he was 15 years old beginning with just his family’s yard and steadily gaining more customers since then. It has grown, in fact, to the point he was maintaining 75 yards by the sixth year of his SAE (Supervised Agriculture Experience).

“No one in my family really owns a business but I’ve always wanted to do it and I figured out I could make some money doing it, enough to go out and buy my own equipment and I caught on to that,” he said. “It has just gotten bigger and bigger.”

Hodskins attributes his FFA days in high school as being important to his success now. Especially a small engine repair class and an Ag Mechanics class that has helped him save money by doing his own repairs. “Now I can work on my own equipment without having to hire (someone,)” he said.

In many schools, the FFA chapters are the largest of the student organizations. Hodskins believes it because agriculture has so many different aspects to it. “There are so many different things in the field. Agriculture is so diverse,” he said.

Matt Chaliff, the Kentucky FFA executive secretary said the Star Awards are the highest offered by FFA intended to recognize students for their outstanding work in their SAE’s.

“James and Jared have invested thousands of hours to build their SAE programs since they were freshmen. They are being recognized because of their hard work, dedication and commitment to growing their operations,” he said.