The 2026 Stars over Oklahoma represent the very highest achievement within the youth organization, as the four winners are the very best in their respective SAE categories- Agriscience, Ag Placement, Agribusiness and Ag Production. Each honoree will receive a scholarship in the amount of $29,484 from the Carl C. Anderson Trust. They will also receive the Governor’s Trophy for their efforts.
Each Star was interviewed by Farm Director KC Shepherd and a link to those stories are found below- and Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays hosted a video with each Star that was shown at the Fifth Session of the Convention as that Star was named the 2026 winner- that video can be seen with each thumbnail:
Oklahoma Star Farmer of 2026- Joel Parker of Cherokee FFA
Joel Parker of the Cherokee FFA chapter got his start in the cattle business with a simple opportunity from his family. “My dad gave me a couple of old cows—‘dinosaur cows’ is what I like to call them—and that’s how I really got started.”
From there, Parker turned his supervised agricultural experience into a true cow-calf operation. Beginning his sophomore year, he retained his own replacement heifers and steadily expanded his herd. “Everything I own, I’ve calved out as heifers,” he said.
That foundation has allowed him to build a self-sustaining program, where each generation of cattle is raised from within his own herd
Like many young producers, Parker says some of his biggest lessons came through challenges. One early setback came when using the wrong type of bull on his heifers. “I used a neighbor’s bull that really wasn’t a heifer bull… I didn’t know that, but I figured it out.”
Since then, he’s taken a more strategic approach—studying EPDs and investing in his own bull to better manage genetics. “You just got to stick with it. It’s not always going to go perfectly as planned… one day it will go perfectly.”
Star in Agribusiness- Zach Allen of Guthrie FFA
From a birthday mower to a growing business, Zach Allen of the Guthrie FFA Chapter has turned an early work ethic into a standout FFA success story. The owner of A to Z Lawn Care has built his lawn care company from the ground up, learning firsthand what it takes to run and expand a business.
Allen says one of the biggest lessons has been learning how to manage people. He currently has seven employees working for him.
“One thing I’ve had to learn was employee management,” Allen said. “Trying to get them to show up and kind of trying to manage them has been one difficult thing, but we’re still learning.”
Customer service is another priority. He says they stay in touch with customers, welcome feedback, and use social media to stay connected. Looking ahead, Allen says one major goal is reaching $100,000 in revenue next year.
Star in Ag Placement- Faith Wright of Stratford FFA
Stratford FFA member Faith Wright explains that her supervised agricultural experience has centered around both livestock production and direct-to-consumer sales.
“I have had two major ag projects. One was working for a diversified livestock production farm, and then the other is working at a fruit and vegetable roadside stand in the Stratford area.”
While the livestock experience built technical skills, Wright found herself drawn to the customer interaction and fast-paced environment of the roadside stand—especially during peach season.
“Working at the roadside stand, I mainly work in the stand selling directly to the consumer and the customers, selling fruits and vegetables, and just getting to work with customers every day.”
That daily connection made a lasting impression. “I have kind of stuck to the peaches and the fruit stand more because I get to talk to people every day… the livestock don’t talk back.”
Star in Agriscience- Maddie Bishop of Stillwater FFA
What began as a simple question about how often eggs really need to be turned in an incubator has grown into five years of detailed Agriscience research for Madilyn “Maddie” Bishop. The Stillwater FFA member has built an impressive record of poultry-based studies focused on egg freshness, fertility, and the use of technology in animal science.
Beyond research, Bishop has grown as a leader through FFA. A first-generation member with no deep agricultural background, she said she found her place early through leadership contests and public speaking. “I started by doing opening and closing ceremonies, and I fell in love with it, with public speaking, and then agriscience,” she said.
Now serving as Stillwater FFA president, Bishop leads a chapter of more than 250 members while encouraging younger students to explore agricultural careers. “We’ve had a speaker… every single month that has an agriculture background and is working in agriculture right now,” she said. “To get them really excited about there are other careers in agriculture that are not just a farmer.”
Looking ahead, Bishop plans to attend Oklahoma State University and major in agribusiness and animal science with an emphasis on reproduction. “For sure, I am planning on continuing,” she said. “My senior year project has never been done before, and so I plan on getting that one out there.”
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.
