MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota FFA Association named Cameron Saxton as the 2018 Minnesota FFA Star Farmer. Saxton, a Fairmont FFA member, received one of the association’s highest honors at the annual awards ceremony held on Monday, April 23.
Since first grade, Saxton has been a part of Saxton Cattle Company in partnership with his parents. After years of improving the herd, Saxton gained full ownership of the cattle when he was 15 years old. Today, he owns 25 cows, one bull and 40 younger animals.
“Each year, calves will be grown for feeder calves or replacement heifers,” Saxton said.
The 2018 award winner also exhibits his cattle at county and state fairs, improving his cattle genetics every year.
Saxton is involved in football, baseball, trapshooting and 4-H, and currently serves as the Fairmont FFA vice president. After graduating in May, Saxton’s plans are to study agricultural engineering at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.
“In the future, I’d like to design livestock facilities,” he said.
Saxton has gained many valuable skills including animal care, record keeping, and personal and business finance.
In a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program, students apply what they are learning in the classroom. A student designs a program to gain hands-on experience and develop skills in agricultural career areas which interest them. Students are supervised by agricultural education teachers in cooperation with parents, employers and other adults who assist them in the development and achievement of their educational and career goals. The Fairmont FFA chapter is led by agricultural education teacher and advisor Amber Seibert.
Each year, 16 state finalists—four in each category—vie for the association’s top awards: Star Farmer, Star in Agribusiness, Star in Production Placement and Star in Agriscience. These awards honor students who have developed outstanding agricultural skills through their SAE and earned the state degree. The 2018 FFA Stars over Minnesota recognition program is sponsored by Compeer Financial Services as a special project of the Minnesota FFA Foundation.
Visit mnffa.org for more details about the 89th Minnesota FFA convention. Follow along on social media or watch the general sessions on youtube.com/minnesotaffa.
— Minnesota FFA Association
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