STATE STAR AWARDS

• Eligibility: Applicants must be active FFA members in good standing and must apply for the State FFA Degree in the same year they apply for a State Star Award.

• SAE Records: Projects must be well‑documented and reflect at least two calendar years of meaningful Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) work.

• One Category: Candidates must select a single Star category that best fits their primary SAE; mixing SAE types within an application will hurt scoring.

• District Quota: Each district may submit only one applicant per category (Star Farmer, Agribusiness, Agricultural Placement, Agriscience). It is at the district’s discretion to determine who will

• State Degree Application: The State Star application is evaluated alongside the applicant’s State FFA Degree application and AET record book.

These definitions align with the American Star Award Categorydescriptions and apply at the state level:

• State Star Farmer: Entrepreneurship SAEs that produce plants or animals intended to feed or clothe humans or animals; includes cattle, sheep, swine, goats, poultry, bees, llamas/alpacas, fur‑bearing animals, fish, grains, forage, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts, oil crops, herbs, spices, cotton, hemp, tobacco, and seed/seedling production.

• State Star in Agribusiness: Entrepreneurship SAEs that are non‑production agribusinesses (e.g., marketing, services, technology) and do not meet the definition of Star Farmer.

• State Star in Agricultural Placement: Paid or unpaid placement SAEs working for an agricultural or natural‑resource producer or agribusiness; positions must align with AFNR pathways.

• State Star in Agriscience: Research‑based SAEs that use the scientific method to test a hypothesis; may include qualitative, quantitative, descriptive or experimental research.

• February 1 – State FFA Degree application deadline (must meet this deadline to qualify for the State Star Award; refer to the Degrees page for more information).

• March 1 – Application due in AET.

• Early March – A committee reviews State Star applications using State Degree applications and AET records as supplemental information.

• Mid‑March – State staff coordinate interviews for finalists; sign‑ups are distributed via the Idaho Ag Ed Listserv.

• During State Leadership Convention – In-person interviews take place. Award winners are announced on stage during session.

• After Convention National Level: There is no national “State Star” award. State winners may later be eligible to apply for American Star Awards when they earn their American Degree. Members do not have to participate in the State Star Award program to be eligible to participate in the American Star Award program.

• Chapter Level:
  Chapters are encouraged to recognize Star Greenhand and Star Chapter FFA Degree recipients at their local banquets. Doing so builds a culture of recognition and motivates members to pursue higher degrees and awards. Advisors can streamline this process by using the built-in AET award applications, which improves efficiency and prepares students for success in State Star applications in future years. Chapters should also celebrate their State Star nominees and finalists locally to build enthusiasm for state-level competition.

• State Level:
  Category winners receive plaques (or belt buckles) and are recognized on stage at the Idaho FFA State Leadership Convention. Disqualified applications (e.g., for excessive replicated text) do not receive the district Star award and may not advance, though the State FFA Degree is still awarded.

• Future Opportunities:
  State Star winners can leverage their experience to strengthen future American FFA Degree and American Star Award applications, gaining recognition at the national level.

• Complete Application in AET: Students fill out the State Star Application (found in the AET Awards module) and select the appropriate categoryidahoffa.org.

• Generate Final Version: Once all checklist items are met, the student generates a final PDF from the student side of AET.

• Advisor Review & Submission: Advisors must verify accuracy, ensure the SAE fits the chosen category, and submit the application via their AET advisor account.

• State Degree Alignment: The State Star application relies heavily on information from the State FFA Degree application and AET record books, so both must be completed simultaneously.

• Supporting Documents: Photos, financial records, journals and efficiency factors should clearly document the project (see State Star rubric for details).

• Threshold: State Star applications must contain 10 % or less replicated text.

• Self‑Reuse: Students may reuse their own writing from past applications, but not text from other members.

• Disqualification: Applications exceeding the allowable limit are disqualified. Star applicants disqualified for replicated text do not receive district star awards and cannot proceed in sifting, but they still earn their State Degree.

Rubrics are available in the Idaho FFA resources folder.

• Application Score: The State Star rubric evaluates several criteria—SAE description, roles and responsibilities, efficiency factors, skills/activities, annual growth, project scope, photos/captions, journals/financials, spelling/grammar, and a resume with career objectives—for a total of 100 points

• Interview Score: Finalists complete an interview scored on appearance (10 points), communication skills (10 points) and knowledge of the SAE and application (30 points), for a total of 50 points.

• Final Score: Application (100 points) + Interview (50 points) = 150 points. In the event of a tie, the interview score serves as the tiebreaker.

Can a student receive their State FFA Degree one year and apply for a State Star Award in another year, even if they are still in high school while applying?
No; students must apply for a State Star Award in the same year they apply for and receive their State FFA Degree. Applications cannot be deferred to later years, even if the member is still in high school.

What happens if I select the wrong category?
Applications are not recategorized by state staff. Select the category that best fits your primary SAE; mixing multiple SAE types in one Star application will lower your score.

Can I compete in State Star and other award areas (Proficiency, Agriscience Fair, CDE/LDE)?
Yes. Members are encouraged to pursue multiple opportunities. However, any scheduling conflicts must be communicated to Idaho FFA state staff and event superintendents in advance to ensure fair participation.

Can two SAEs be combined for a Star application?
Candidates must choose the SAE type that best represents their program and use only that project in their Star application. All SAEs may be reported in the State Degree application, but the Star application must focus on the single qualifying project.

How do Star Greenhand and Star Chapter awards differ from the State Star Award?
Star Greenhand and Star Chapter awards are chapter-level recognitions given by local FFA chapters to honor members for early achievement and leadership. These are tied to student’s Greenhand and Chapter FFA Degrees. The State Star Award is a state-level recognition, awarded to members who receive their State FFA Degree and demonstrate the top SAEs in Idaho. While chapter-level Star awards build excitement and prepare members for future opportunities, the State Star represents the highest honor available with the State Degree.