During the month of April, the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and Oklahoma Farm Report are spotlighting the 17 Area Stars of Oklahoma FFA, who are among the highest achievers in the organization.
The stars come from the four areas in four categories – Star in Ag Placement, Star in Agriscience, Star in Agribusiness, and Star in Agricultural Production.
This week, we spotlight the three area stars in Agricultural Placement in 2026.
One Star Finalist featured in the coming days from each of the categories will be named the State Star Award Winner during the 100th Oklahoma State FFA Convention, which will take place on May 5th and 6th in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
We continue our coverage of the 2026 Oklahoma FFA Star Award Finalists today with Griffin Payne of the Thomas Fay Custer FFA representing the southwest area.
FFA students across Oklahoma are building real-world skills through hands-on projects, and for some, those experiences are rooted right at home on the family farm.
For many young people in agriculture, success starts with hands-on experience—and for Griffin Payne of the Thomas-Fay-Custer FFA chapter, that experience stretches from pasture to processing, giving him a rare, full-circle view of the beef production chain.
A Full-Circle SAE: From Farm to Meat Case
Griffin Payne’s supervised agricultural experience (SAE) is rooted deeply in his family’s operation, combining traditional cattle production with a meat processing business. “My placement SAE consists of my work at my family’s farm and my family’s meat company,” Payne explained. “Ever since I can remember, I’ve helped on the farm, and in recent years, in 2020, the family built a meat company to vertically integrate the two together.”
That integration is a key part of what makes his project unique. Payne isn’t just raising cattle—he’s involved in every stage of production, all the way to the finished product. “I love being able to see the cattle that the farm raises all the way through, and I can see the meat that the cattle produced,” he said.
Through this setup, Payne gains a comprehensive understanding of how livestock move through the production system, from daily care and management on the farm to processing and final preparation at the meat facility.
A Day in the Life: Hard Work Across Two Operations
Balancing school with two labor-intensive operations takes commitment. Payne described a typical day as one that doesn’t stop when the school bell rings. “Every day, I go to school, and then after school, I’m able to get off, and I go to the farm,” he said. “And then also, if there’s no work to be done at the farm, I go to the meat company.”
His responsibilities vary depending on the day and the needs of the operation. At the farm, that can include general livestock care, while at the processing facility, his role becomes more technical and demanding. “I help in processing or the kill floor—and basically just whatever the meat company or farm needs, that’s what I’m doing,” Payne said.
While he admits some days can be tough, he’s embraced the challenge. “Some days it’s a little too much, but we get through those hard days,” he said.
Payne credits his family as the foundation of his knowledge and success. “My parents and my siblings helped, and basically my dad has taught me everything I know, and then my mom has taught me everything I know at the meat company,” he shared.
Looking Ahead: Blending Agriculture and Accounting
As Payne looks to the future, he plans to continue building on both sides of his experience—production and business. “Yes, I do,” he said when asked if he plans to stay involved in both the farm and meat company after graduation.
His next step includes pursuing higher education, with a focus on strengthening the financial side of the operation. “I plan to attend college for accounting… and use that financial knowledge to run the farm and meat company,” Payne said. “I want to get my CPA… and I kind of want to follow my dad’s footsteps.”
In addition to his project, Payne has also been active in FFA competitions, particularly enjoying tractor driving and land judging.
This year’s 17 Area Stars will each be recognized on stage in the fifth general session of the 100th Oklahoma FFA Convention May 6th in Tulsa and each will receive a plaque and $500 cash award co-sponsored by the Blue and Gold Sausage Co., Sirloin Club of Oklahoma, Masonic Charity Foundation, McDonald’s of Oklahoma, Davis Farms, The Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the Noble Research Institute.
The Star in each category will each receive $29,484 in scholarships or capital grant funds through a $3.2 million gift from the Carl C. Anderson Trust. The late Carl C. Anderson, after whom the State Star awards are now named, was born in Naples, Oklahoma, in 1911. One of 10 children, he dropped out of high school to earn money and support his family. From those modest beginnings, the Anderson Corp. grew across the country as well as in Canada and South America.
Our coverage of the 2026 Oklahoma FFA Association State Convention is sponsored by Oklahoma Farm Bureau, proud to support the young men and ladies of the Oklahoma FFA as they strive for excellence in all they do. Oklahoma Farm Bureau- We Are Rural Oklahoma.
Learn more about the 100th Annual Convention of the Oklahoma FFA by clicking here for the convention highlights.
