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 Bella Muncy of the Red Oak 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.
Students often discover their path through FFA in unexpected ways, and for Bella Muncy of the Red Oak FFA Chapter, that journey led from public speaking to an award-winning agriscience project centered around one of Oklahoma’s most recognizable fundraiser staples—Blue and Gold sausage. Her project combined food science, consumer preference research, and hands-on meat processing experience while helping answer an interesting question: Does sausage texture matter to buyers?
Testing a New Twist on a Familiar Favorite
Muncy said her agriscience project began after encouragement from her advisor to branch out beyond speech contests. “We were cooking up our Blue and Gold sausage, and I was like, bingo,” she said.
With help from an Oklahoma Farm Bureau agriscience grant and Eastern Oklahoma State College’s meats lab, Muncy created two different sausage products using separate grind sizes. One was the traditional coarse grind commonly associated with Blue and Gold sausage, while the other was a finer grind more similar to ground beef.
She then conducted a consumer survey where participants sampled both versions and selected their preference. “I’d make those two and then make a survey and do a social science experiment with people testing the two different options and see which one people prefer more,” she explained.
Results That Defied Her Hypothesis
Muncy expected older consumers to prefer the traditional coarse texture, while younger consumers might lean toward the finer version. Instead, both age groups preferred the finer-ground sausage.
“My above 40 group did actually prefer the finer ground sausage by a whopping 55%,” she said. “My younger generation… preferred the finer ground as well.”
The results showed that even longtime supporters of a classic product may be open to updated versions when taste and texture appeal to them.
Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead
Beyond the data, Muncy said the experience taught her patience and adaptability while working in a meats lab for the first time.
“It was definitely a trial and error to make the grind that I wanted and to make it perfect,” she said. “So definitely a lot of patience.”
This fall, Muncy plans to attend Oklahoma State University to major in agricultural education, with a minor in multimedia journalism or agricultural communications. She hopes to become either an ag teacher or a news reporter.
She also wants younger students to know agriculture has room for everyone. “FFA is for everyone,” Muncy said. “You don’t have to grow up on a farm; you can be just like me and live in town and be an Aggie.”
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.
