COOKEVILLE, TN—Austin Akers of the Cumberland County Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter is Tennessee FFA’s 2017 Star in Agribusiness sponsored by Tennessee Farmers Cooperative. The Star in Agribusiness is considered one of the highest awards in the state bestowed on an FFA member. Star recognition is awarded to the top students in five areas who best demonstrate superior Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects, a requirement for all FFA members. His SAE projects are turfgrass and landscape management.
Austin runs his own turfgrass and landscape business in Cumberland County. He is responsible for 17 residential lawns and 2 commercial spaces. Austin will attend Tennessee Tech University in the fall to pursue a degree in agriculture business to one day return to Akers Lawn Care and improve his operation.
For his achievement, Austin was selected to participate in the weeklong 3rd Annual Tennessee FFA Star Tour presented by Farm Credit Mid-America. The Tennessee FFA Star Tour offers the Stars a platform to share the work from their agricultural projects with supporters across Tennessee. The tour begins in Nashville where the stars will plan their presentation for the week. From there, the Stars will present at a luncheon for the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (SASDA). They will also attend a Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation reception in Cookeville where they will meet both the Tennessee and American Farm Bureau Presidents. Finishing off the first night, the Stars will make a stop at Tennessee FFA Leadership Training Camp in Doyle to make their presentation before fellow FFA members.
Day two includes a breakfast with Farm Credit Mid-America (FCMA) in Cookeville where the Stars will meet several FCMA leaders, as well as government leaders. Next, they will visit Little Creek Produce and round out their time in Cookeville with a presentation at the Noon Rotary Club. Later that day, the Stars will meet former American Star Farmer and past Tennessee FFA State President, Joe Moore at his farm in Granville before traveling to Memphis.
Days three and four will be spent in West Tennessee as the Stars tour Graceland, visit and tour Thompson Machinery and stop at Star Farmer Catherine Turner’s farm (Turner Angus Farm) for a Star Farmer Reception. Plus, the group will visit Century Farm Winery in Jackson and Tosh Farms in Henry to conclude the tour.
FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. Nationally, there are 649,355 FFA members, aged 12-21. The Tennessee FFA Association is comprised of 14,084 members from 214 high school chapters, 7 middle school chapters, and 8 collegiate chapters across the state of Tennessee.
(Photo 1 Caption: Austin Akers of the Cumberland County FFA chapter accepts his Tennessee FFA State Star in Agribusiness award sponsored by the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative.)
(Photo 2 Caption: Austin Akers and fellow Stars make a presentation in Covington where Tipton Farmers Co-op Manager Joey Caldwell was present, as well as many community members during the Third Annual Tennessee FFA Star Tour.)