MANHATTAN — Iola High School FFA member Levi Meiwes was recognized as the State
Star Farmer, one of the association’s top honors, during the virtual 92nd Kansas FFA Convention, held Wednesday through Friday.
Each year, the Kansas FFA Association recognizes three FFA members who have the top Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) programs with the Star Farmer, Star in Agribusiness and Star in Ag Placement awards. The Star competitions are sponsored by Farm Credit Associations of Kansas, United Bank and Trust and Kansas Farm Bureau.
Meiwes’ SAE is in poultry production.
He expanded and grew his poultry operation to become officially licensed as Meiwes Poultry Farm. Meiwes has gained valuable knowledge related to successful poultry production, including research on proper nutrition, design of ideal watering systems and breed selection.
Levi is the son of Paul and Becky Meiwes. His FFA chapter advisor is Amanda Strickler.
SEVERAL other items of note were recognized during the convention, including the recognition of local FFA members earning $1,000 Ford Trucks/Built Ford Tough Scholarships. Local scholarship recipients were Brody Nemecek, Iola High School; Cooper Jaro, Humboldt High School; and Zoi Yoho, Marmaton Valley High School. Meanwhile, Marmaton Valley’s Allison Heim and Julianna Sprague received National FFA Foundation Scholarships.
IOLA’S Lorie Carpenter and Meiwes received their State FFA Degrees, the highest honor Kansas FFA can bestow upon its members.
In order to achieve this award, members must have received their Chapter FFA Degree, been an FFA member and agricultural education student for at least two years, earned at least $2,000 or worked 600 hours in their Supervised Agricultural Experience program, given a six-minute speech about agriculture or FFA, participated in eight different leadership activities, received a “C” average or better in high school and shown a record of outstanding leadership and community involvement.
Three from Marmaton Valley — Heim, Sprague and Yoho — also received their State FFA Degrees, as did Mark Bacca, Trent Burton, Taylor Jacobs, Joey Smith and Kayle Smith of Yates Center High School.
