FAIRMONT — The Minnesota FFA Association has named Fairmont High School senior Camren Saxton the 2018 Minnesota FFA Star Farmer.

This is the first time anyone from Fairmont FFA has been named Star Farmer, one of FFA’s highest honors.

In order to go to the state FFA convention, students had to have either been receiving an award or have qualified for state in career development events. Twelve students from Fairmont FFA recently attended the Minnesota FFA Convention at the University of Minnesota campus in St. Paul.

In order to qualify for Star Farmer, Saxton had to apply for his state degree, which requires that a FFA member earn or invest a minimum amount of money through their supervised agricultural experience, complete 25 hours of community service, complete at least two years of ag education instruction and participate in a minimum of 10 activities above the chapter level.

“Because he applied for his state degree this year, that also made him eligible to apply for the Star Farmer award because they choose the Stars out of every year’s pool of state degree candidates,” explained Amber Seibert, the ag instructor and FFA adviser at Fairmont Area.

Saxton had to apply separately for Star Farmer and interview for it before being named a regional Star. He was interviewed again before being named state Star Farmer. Saxton found out he was named Star Farmer while at the award ceremony in front of about 3,500 people.

“I was really nervous up on stage and I was really surprised when they actually called my name,” he said.

The Star Farmer category is for students who are actively farming on their own or in a partnership. Students must demonstrate entrepreneurship in an agriculture production area and show leadership through FFA.

Saxton is vice president of Fairmont’s FFA chapter this year. He also started young helping with his parents’ cattle company and, as a freshman, took full ownership of the cattle. Today he owns 26 cattle and is the sole proprietor of his business, Saxton Cattle Company.

After graduating, Saxton plans to go to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to study engineering.

“He’s the first Star Farmer from Fairmont,” Seibert said. “It’s very impressive for a chapter that’s so young still.”

Other area students who received awards at the state FFA ceremony include:

o Jazlyn Meyer, Fairmont FFA, earned her state degree;

o Andrew Moeller, Fairmont FFA, poultry production;

o Lance Becker, Fairmont FFA, swine production placement;

o Logan Pothoff, Martin County West FFA, vegetable production;

o Carson Kahler, Martin County West FFA, agriculture sales entrepreneurship;

o Jordan Stahl, Martin County West FFA, named 2018 Minnesota FFA Star in Agriscience.