INDIANAPOLIS – Two FFA members – one from northern Indiana and the other from central Kentucky – are among 16 American Star finalists in four categories, the National FFA Organization announced in July.

The American Star Awards represent the best of the best among thousands of American FFA Degree recipients, according to the organization. The award recognizes FFA members who have developed outstanding agricultural skills and competencies by completing a supervised agricultural experience program, FFA said. The winners will be announced at the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo this fall.

Matthias David Hefty, of the DeKalb, Ind., FFA chapter, is one of four finalists for American Star in Agriscience. Nathan Clark, of the Locust Trace chapter in Kentucky, is one of four finalists for American Star Farmer.

Hefty’s four projects in high school centered around his goat herd and solving problems with hay waste, resistance to parasites and hoof trimming. For one project, he created two hay bunk feeders of different sizes to test against a control feeder with a goal of reducing hay waste.

“My second project, I created a retractable tray within my fence-line feeders to easily remove manure where the grain is put. This stopped my goats from consuming their own manure, eliminating the recurrence of parasites.”

Hefty said he believes all his projects “played a factor in me being chosen as a finalist because they all effectively saved me money as a goat farmer and solved all the problems within my herd to improve health and efficiency.

“I have a huge passion for my goat herd and always want everything to be healthy and operating correctly,” Hefty explained. “With my projects, I always sought after problems that were hurting the operation’s efficiency or herd health. I enjoyed spending countless hours on coming up with ideas and testing them to see if it solved the problems at hand. This always helped me save money and time and ensured that I kept my herd at its best.”

A panel of judges will interview the finalists before the winners are announced at the convention.

To prepare for the interview, Hefty said he will review his reports to refresh himself on his data and research.

“It means a lot to me to be selected as an American Star finalist in Agriscience because I’ve spent countless hours on research and testing to find solutions to problems within my goat herd,” he said. “This recognition acknowledges my research and designs as well as all the hours I invested.”

Hefty will be a sophomore this fall at Purdue University, where he is dual majoring in finance and accounting. He said he intends to pursue a career in accounting where he can help individuals and business owners.

Clark’s main project is a grass-fed cattle operation that he owns and manages from cow-calf production through to slaughter.

“I also run a small lamb feeding operation and a forage business that includes custom baling (both round and square bales), hay and forage sales, and pasture mowing services. It’s a full-time job and full-circle operation that’s grown with me over the years.”

He said the most rewarding part of the project has been seeing how far things have come.

“With a lot of hard work and persistence, I’ve been able to improve genetics, increase forage yields, upgrade equipment, and boost overall productivity. Watching that progress unfold over time has been amazing – it’s the kind of satisfaction that only comes from getting your hands dirty and putting in the work.”

He said being named a finalist is an incredible honor.

“It’s really humbling to see all the hard work, late nights, and dedication recognized on this level. It means that the time I’ve spent building my operation and learning through FFA has truly paid off – and that’s something I’m really proud of.”

Clark said joining FFA seemed like a natural fit as he was always drawn to agriculture. “But once I got involved, I realized it was so much more than I expected – it became a place where I could grow as a leader, gain real-world experience and truly find my path.”

He has been farming full time since he graduated from Locust Trace Agriscience Center in 2022. “Since then, I’ve grown my operation significantly and plan to continue expanding. Farming isn’t just what I do – it’s who I am.”

The other two American Star categories are agribusiness and agricultural placement.

In addition to Hefty and Clark, additional finalists from Farm World’s primary readership area are:

Brady Frascht, Charles City, Iowa, FFA chapter (American Star Farmer); John Buryl Neely, Woodbury, Tenn., chapter (agribusiness); Blake Twenhafel, Wescline, Ill., chapter (agribusiness); Braden Compton, Meade County, Ky., chapter (agricultural placement); Nevin Erbsen, Eastland, Ill., chapter (agricultural placement); Delana Erbsen, Eastland, Ill., chapter (agriscience); and Joanna Hamilton, Felicity-Franklin, Ohio, chapter (agriscience).

For more information and a complete list of finalists, visit ffa.org/stars