Star finalist puts thousands of hours into FFA project

STREATOR, Ill. — Jaron Black has put thousands of hours into his FFA supervised agricultural experience project for several years which has earned him national recognition.

Black is one of four finalists for American Star in Agricultural Placement. The award will be presented during the National FFA Convention & Expo, Oct. 21-24 in Indianapolis.

Three additional finalists for Star in Agricultural Placement are: Jamin Miles, Georgia; Landon Roling, South Dakota; and Noah Wiley, Kansas.

“My FFA book started in 2019, but truthfully it started as soon as I could walk on my family farm,” Black said. “I am very excited to find out if I won or not, I can’t wait.”

His family home was across the road from his uncle’s farm shop.

“As kids we would go under the road in a 5-foot culvert, walk about a quarter-mile down to the shop and hang out all day,” he said. “Mom would not let us cross the road, so we went under the road.”

His farm work started with small tasks such as pressure washing equipment, using an air compressor to clean equipment and sweeping floors.

“As I got older, I started running equipment like the grain cart and doing tillage,” the Streator FFA member said. “I also learned how to run the combine and planter.”

Next, Black got involved with applying fertilizer and crop protection products.

“I enjoyed being a custom applicator and I sprayed around 30,000 acres in a year,” the Star finalist said.

“Then I started working full time at Geiger Trucking and I was able to run about 100,000 miles in my first year of being there and I really enjoyed being able to help on their farm, as well,” he said.

The FFA member invested a lot of hard work and dedication into his SAE project.

“I think it is about 12,800 hours for my work and probably another 200 hours or better for the record book,” said the son of Jason and Megan Black.

“I have four people to thank who helped me — my parents, my adviser and my wife, Macie,” he said.

Black almost did not achieve his American FFA Degree.

“I did not win my state proficiency award and I got very discouraged and I wanted to give up at that point,” he recalled. “I wanted to focus on working, farming and quit doing my FFA books.”

However, his adviser, Riley Hintzsche, encouraged him to continue with his FFA project.

“He has been phenomenal through it all,” Black stressed. “I cannot thank him enough.”

Black is now a 150 Union Operator and is working at a landfill running a bulldozer and compactor.

“I work about 60 hours per week here, and when I get off work at 4:30 or 5 p.m., I go and help on the farm, whether it is Geiger’s or my uncle at Black Farms,” he said.

The ultimate goal for Black is to eventually return to farming full time.

“It pains me to be away from the farm,” he admitted. “So, I am hoping to put about 20 years in here and then go back to either the Geiger’s or to help on the family farm with my dad and older brother.”