The 2015 Tennessee Future Farmers of America Star Tour stopped in Warren County on Wednesday. A reception was held for the stars at Warren County High School.
“These kids are going on a whirlwind tour across Tennessee in three days,” said Warren County High School’s FFA advisor Danielle Smith. “They are all Tennessee State Stars. They are here today because one of the stars is Clay Prater and he’s from our FFA Chapter.”
The American Star Awards represent the best of the best among thousands of FFA members. Prater earned the highest award given to an FFA member in Tennessee, that of Tennessee FFA State Star Farmer. He was presented the recognition after competing at the state level. He is now on tour ever given to the winners in the various categories.
The Star goes to the FFA member with the top production agriculture supervised agricultural experiences program each year.
Prater, 18, grew up in agriculture. He is the sixth generation on his family’s farm.
“My involvement in the show stock industry started at a very young age,” said Prater. “In 2001, I stumbled across some of my dad’s old trophies in corn crib. I asked him how he got the trophies and he said he used to show back in the day. I said well, I want to show and I want to win trophies. I was too young to show in 4-H so my dad took me to the Indiana State Fair to show at an open show. I was the youngest one in the showroom and I was competing against some of the top breeders in the country. That show sparked my flame.”
Prater joined 4-H as soon as he was old enough, earning the highest award in that organization his junior year in high school. He joined FFA as a freshman in high school. Before those top awards, he earned numerous others. Today, a graduate of Warren County High School, he plans on attending the University of Tennessee Knoxville where he will study Animal Science and Agriculture Business.
Smith says Prater accomplished something no one thought was possible.
“Clay is extremely exceptional,” said Smith. “He excelled in 4-H. He went as far in Tennessee 4-H, award wise, as you can go. He received their top award in his junior year.  A lot of kids feel like they have to choose between 4-H and FFA. Clay proved to the entire state you can be top of the top in both programs. He’s a very impressive young man.”
Rounding out the other Stars on the tour with Prater were Sam Daniel named Star in Agribusiness, Jordin Hockady named Star in Agriculture Placement, Andrew Swafford named Star in Agriscience, and Averi Cole named Star Greenhand. The tour is sponsored by FarmCredit Mid-America.
In three years, Prater can compete for the highest recognition in the nation for an aspiring young farmer: the National American Star Farmer. He is the son of Kelly and Leah Prater.