June 12, 2025

Star in Agribusiness

By Martha Blum
Tucker Snook provides lawn care services to 40 yards each week and he also offers spring and fall cleanup services.

Tucker Snook provides lawn care services to 40 yards each week and he also offers spring and fall cleanup services. (Provided photo)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The winner of the Star in Agribusiness award will be announced during the Wednesday afternoon session of the Illinois FFA State Convention starting at 2 p.m.

These FFA members are competing for this prestigious award.

Tucker Snook

District: 1

Chapter: Cambridge

FFA Advisers: Trent Taber, Haley Gruber and Lexi Mueller

Parents: Wade and Candy Snook

SAE Project: Tucker Snook started Tucker’s Mowing in 2018 to provide lawn care services to 40 yards weekly in the Cambridge community. In addition to regular lawn maintenance, Snook also offers spring and fall cleanup services. He typically works about 18 hours a week and focuses on efficiency, safety and customer satisfaction.

Seth Mund operates one of his machines that he uses for his FFA project that includes a lawn care and landscape company.

Seth Mund operates one of his machines that he uses for his FFA project that includes a lawn care and landscape company. (Provided photo)

Seth Mund

District: 2

Chapter: Pontiac

FFA Adviser: Jesse Faber

Parents: Erick and Laura Mund

SAE Project: The Pontiac FFA member has started several entrepreneurial projects as a high school student including a lawn care and landscape company, as well as a meat sales business.

Morgan Hampton checks on her beehive that she manages for her FFA project. She harvests the honey and packages it to sell to local customers.

Morgan Hampton checks on her beehive that she manages for her FFA project. She harvests the honey and packages it to sell to local customers. (Provided photo)

Morgan Hampton

District: 3

Chapter: Lincolnwood

FFA Adviser: Monty Elvidge

Parents: Phil and Cassandra Hampton

SAE Project: Beekeeping and selling honey are the focus of Morgan Hampton’s FFA project. She manages the hives, harvests the honey and packages it to sell to local customers. Along with growing her business, Hampton strives to educate the community about the benefits of honey and the importance of bees for the agricultural industry.

For her floral design business, Taylor Crouch creates arrangements for weddings, school events and funerals.

For her floral design business, Taylor Crouch creates arrangements for weddings, school events and funerals. (Provided photo)

Taylor Crouch

District: 4

Chapter: Maroa-Forsyth

FFA Advisers: Cassie Crouch

Parents: Jeremy and Cassie Crouch

SAE Project: Taylor Couch operates CF Supplies, where she purchases conditioner, soap and oil and sells them to livestock exhibitors nationwide. She has a business relationship with HogFathers, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which has taught her how to run a competitive business model. The FFA member’s second business is Petals and Blooms floral design. She creates floral arrangements for weddings, school events and funerals and sells them around the state.

Chasey Peas started her business with mowing and weedeating services and has expanded her company to focus more on landscaping.

Chasey Peas started her business with mowing and weedeating services and has expanded her company to focus more on landscaping. (Provided photo)

Chasey Peas

District: 5

Chapter: Goreville

FFA Adviser: Jeff Robison

Parents: Alex and Tara Peas

SAE Project: The Goreville FFA member is the owner and operator of Peas Complete Lawn Care. She started her business with mowing and weed-eating services and during her junior year in high school she decided to expand her business to focus more on landscaping. She does a variety of jobs such as bed preparation, bed maintenance, trimming bushes, removing landscaping, spraying for vegetation control and installing fire pits.

BeesFarmers MarketFFAFlowersFuneralLawn & GardenLivestockPollinatorsYoung LeadersWedding
Martha Blum

Martha Blum

Field Editor