- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Newark Today
By the People, for the People
Newark FFA Member Toby Steffen Named District Star in Farming
Steffen recognized for outstanding agricultural skills and leadership in FFA program
Apr. 8, 2026 at 6:20pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
FFA member Toby Steffen's award-winning agricultural skills and leadership are celebrated through a bold, pop art-inspired illustration.Newark TodayToby Steffen, a member of the Newark FFA Chapter in Illinois, was recently selected as the District FFA Star in Farmer. The Illinois FFA recognizes four outstanding FFA members in each of the state's five districts for their achievements in agricultural education, leadership, and record-keeping through their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) programs.
Why it matters
The FFA Star Awards highlight exceptional students who are developing valuable skills and experience in the agricultural industry through hands-on learning. Steffen's recognition as the District 2 Star in Farmer demonstrates his commitment to agricultural education and his potential as a future leader in the field.
The details
Steffen was chosen for the award by a committee of agriculture industry representatives and teachers. He previously earned chapter and section-level awards before competing at the state level on March 21. In addition to being named a District Star, Steffen was also recognized as a national finalist in the Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program and as a state winner in Specialty Crop Production.
- Steffen was named the District 2 winner in early April 2026.
- He competed at the State FFA Awards Selection process on March 21, 2026.
The players
Toby Steffen
A member of the Newark FFA Chapter in Illinois who was named the District FFA Star in Farmer for his outstanding achievements in agricultural education and leadership.
Illinois FFA
The state organization of the National FFA Association that recognizes exceptional FFA members in Illinois through awards like the District Star in Farmer.
Newark FFA Chapter
The local FFA chapter that Toby Steffen is a member of in Newark, Illinois.
The takeaway
Toby Steffen's recognition as the District FFA Star in Farmer demonstrates the valuable real-world skills and leadership experience that FFA programs provide to students interested in pursuing careers in agriculture. His accomplishments highlight the importance of hands-on agricultural education in preparing the next generation of farmers and industry leaders.