In early July, three Edna High School seniors earned their Lone Star degrees at the 97th annual State FFA Convention, which held 16,000 members and guests. The Lone Star is the highest award an FFA member can reach at the state level.
Instructors Kristan DeBord and Savannah Depine helped guide Morgan DeBord, Kelly Laredo and Austin Sommerfeld through their prerequisites to earn their degrees.
Depine said Laredo is an extremely hard-working, organized and cheerful young lady who raises market rabbits for the Jackson County Youth Fair and works for Blackmon Stables.
“Those two components have allowed her to gain enough income and project hours to successfully earn her Lone Star degree,” she said.
As for Sommerfeld, Depine described him also as a hard worker and a jack of all trades.
“He’s willing to help with just about any task I give him. He raised rabbits and now raises commercial heifers for the JCYF,” she said.
“You will always find him working in the shop with Mr. (Kurtis) Koop.
He’s also an active member of the Jackson County 4-H and has competed in State Rifle for many years.”
DeBord said watching Morgan work towards his Lone Star degree forced him out of his comfort zone for many projects, but has added to his growth as a person. “He worked several SAEs (supervised agricultural experiences) to find what he enjoyed most, from shop skills, a science fair project, and worked this summer and last at Wittenburg Beefmasters,” she said.
“Last year his solo AG mechanics project taught him he likes working with wood more than metalworking, and it will primarily be where he focuses his senior year.”
A Lone Star degree is awarded to FFA members who’ve received a Chapter degree, been active for at least two years, completed at least four semester of agricultural science at or above the ninth grade.
They must also maintain a supervised agricultural experience program, demonstrate leadership skills and show a commitment to FFA.
More than 2,600 members received their degree this year. For more information, visit the website, texasffa.org.
Morgan DeBord
What caused you to work towards your Lone Star degree? What did you do to earn your Chapter degree?
Mostly, to be able to say I earned one and to use it on my resume and applications, plus my mom said it would be a good idea to get, so I just went for it. If I could use it towards an American degree that would be great, but if not I’ll just use my Lone Star degree.
For my Chapter degree I had two projects, a grill trailer I made with Kyle Woodring, and we also made an adjustable hay spear to attach to a tractor as well. I don’t believe there’s a similar version out there that I know of.
What all do you compete in for Edna FFA?
I’ve constructed a grill station, and I’ve done a little single bench gazebo, which I made this year and I took it to the
Lone Star winners
From left, Austin Sommerfeld, Kelly Laredo and Morgan DeBord donned their degrees with a smile.
Top 30 in Sales
From left, reporter Stephanie Verduzco, secretary Violet Khan, Morgan DeBord, President Emrie Bazan, and Chaplain Mercedez Robinson. Edna FFA was named in the top 30 chapters for overall sales San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. I also compete in range judging for FFA.
Where did you volunteer your community service hours?
For the most part my hours were done by volunteering out at our community Jackson County Youth fair, by helping to set up and clean up afterwards. Then I did things with 4-H and FFA, by handing out snacks to the First Responders.
How did it feel once you were awarded at the ceremony, and to be representing Edna?
Although it felt a little awkward going on stage, because you have all these people watching you receive your degree, but it felt good. I was a little nervous, but once I got on stage, I realized I’d received my Lone Star, and it was great.
What were some of your favorite things about the State FFA Convention?
I enjoyed listening to the speeches of the retiring State FFA officers, and the talent show night, that was fun. I don’t recall anybody doing an act, I remember lots of people singing, and some people formed bands from their chapter. There was one act from each district.
Describe your supervised agricultural experience: what were your AG mechanics projects and your science fair project? And what do you do at Wittenburg Beefmasters? What did you take from the experience?
I constructed a grill last year for the Jackson County Youth Fair, and I’m going to try and sell the single-bench gazebo at this year’s fair. I’m trying to see if one of my friends will help me work on something, or if not I’ll try for something simpler to do, because I’m not too good with welding, I’m more suited for woodworking. Like the gazebo, it’s mostly all wood.
My science project was about the easy ways you could peel a hard boiled egg, some can boil it in vinegar, or steam them with a little bit of water.
I also studied different ways to cool them, like letting them cool off on their own, or using ice, or giving them an ice bath. Then I compared ways to release them, like put them in a container, shake them up and see if they peel, and I’m almost certain that was the best way to peel them.
At Wittenburg Beefmasters, I work as a ranch hand. Most of the time I’m out in the pasture cutting huisache and spraying it. If there’s a smaller rose hedge bush I will do the same to it.
When I’m not cutting and spraying, I’m helping my grandfather work cows, or doing the occasional fence work.
Parents’ names/activities/clubs/ sports:
My parents are Kristan and Jacob DeBord. I’m in 4-H and take photography there, and I play football, and when I don’t play I’m a manager for football.
Kelly Laredo
What caused you to work towards your Lone Star degree? What did you do to earn your Chapter degree?
I have always wanted to earn my Lone Star, as it is the pinnacle of an FFA member’s journey, representing the highest honor in Texas through FFA, which was what truly motivated me to achieve it. I plan to use it to benefit my future endeavors, whether it’s for a job, scholarship, or college application.
I plan to attend Texas A&M in the fall of 2026 and major in Animal Science or Biomedical Science. I then plan to pursue my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine.
I earned my chapter degree by being very involved in my chapter and doing everything I could to make myself stand out.
What all do you compete in for Edna FFA?
I competed on the Senior skills demonstration team and the Veterinary Science team.
Where did you volunteer your community service hours?
I have a very high number of community service hours from volunteering to help in areas such as BRC Spooktacular, Trunk or Treat, Back to School Rally, holding chickens at the fair, sorting school supplies for the elementary, NHS Turkey Trot, Cowgirl athletics yearly community clean up, EJH funday, JCYF livestock judging contest, hosting the STUCO District 11 convention and many more.
How did it feel once you were awarded at the ceremony, and to be representing Edna?
I felt proud throughout the entire process of getting my Lone Star; walking across the stage was truly the cherry on top. The best feeling is when you know your AG teachers are proud of you for getting such an award. It felt heartwarming knowing I was representing Edna as well as Jackson County. With our area being very agriculturally heavy, it made me feel very accomplished.
What were some of your favorite things about the State FFA Convention?
A few of my favorite things about the state convention include seeing all of the FFA chapters come together, meeting new faces, and, of course, the Lone Star degree ceremony.
Describe your supervised agricultural experience: what led you to raising rabbits and working in a stable? What did you take from the experience?
I have always loved the livestock side of FFA, but I am a very busy person, especially in the fall around the time of the fair. I couldn’t commit to a large animal, so I settled for rabbits. They are adorable, anyway.
My grandparents, Kimberly and Jerry Blackmon, own a ranch where they run cattle, racehorses, barrel horses, and a variety of other typical farm animals.
For the past three years, I have assisted them with any tasks needed around the ranch, primarily working with horses and helping with veterinary work on the animals that required it. What I have taken away from this experience is mainly the opportunity to work in a more agricultural environment.
Parents’ names/activities/clubs/ sports: My parents are Tiffany and Victor Laredo. I am involved in many clubs, including NHS, TAFE, UIL, STEM, Student Council, and Interact. I participate on three varsity teams: volleyball, cheer, and golf. I am the captain of both my cheer team and volleyball team.
Austin Sommerfeld
What caused you to work towards your Lone Star degree? What did you do to earn your Chapter degree?
I decided to apply for my Lone Star degree since I had friends earn it last year and they said I should try for it.
With a little push from my mom, and some serious help from Mrs. Savannah Depine, I decided to go for it. It will look good on a resume and college applications, since it shows you can put in time to complete something that not everyone can do and get.
I am interested in going to college for Range and Wildlife Management as well, so it also shows I have some management skills. For my chapter degree, I competed in CDE (Career Development Events) and also stepped up by volunteering for things I haven’t in the past which helped me stand out from other members in my chapter.
What all do you compete in for Edna FFA?
I have competed in CDE’s for Edna FFA. I have been on ATMS (Agricultural Technological Mechanical Systems), AAE (Applied Ag Engineering), and Range. Each one of these teams has made it to compete at the state level in the years I have been on them.
The biggest accomplishment this year is that our AAE team placed second in the state this year and I placed seventh as an individual.
I also completed a grinding bench as an Ag mechanics project which I showed at the Jackson County Youth Fair (awarded Reserve Grand Champion) and showed at San Angelo, San Antonio, and Houston shows. For my high school years, I have shown commercial heifers at the JCYF.
Where did you volunteer your community service hours?
I worked in a lot of different places, from mowing older peoples’ yards who can’t do it for themselves to helping at my church with maintenance to helping with Vacation Bible School. Our FFA group also helps host the Trunk or Treat at the high school, participates in the Angel Tree project, and other small various activities throughout the year.
What were some of your favorite things about the State FFA Convention?
It was crazy at first when I got to the FFA convention because I wasn’t able to go up for the whole week, I just drove up for the day. There were a lot of people, and coming from a small town you aren’t used to it so it was crazy at first, but once I found my group I was good. The process for the presentation was long, but when I got my award I was happy to represent Edna FFA and show what we can do.
Even though I wasn’t at the state convention for long it was cool to see how big the organization actually is and see all the people that love AG and FFA. I realized that some people I’ve met over the years were there for the whole week, so it made me wish I’d gone for more than just the day. It would have been fun to hang out with some of those people.
Tell me what it’s like raising commercial heifers. How much time out of the day do you take towards taking care of them?
Raising commercial heifers is different from your other show animals because you don’t have to “break” them.
Commercial heifers are more pasture stock and not ones that you feed everyday twice a day. Pasture heifers you want to look “good,” but you don’t want them too heavy because then they may have problems calving since it’s their first time. I try to pick heifers that I like so that if I don’t place in the top 24 pens and get to sell, I can keep them and put them out with our family herd.
What I typically do with my heifers is check on them a few times a week, and when I do that, I usually feed about a half-bag feed and make sure the water trough still has water in it. I do other checking, such as making sure the fence is still good, so no one gets out on the road, and make sure none are limping or have other signs that they are sick. I’ve enjoyed this project because it’s the most realistic project for animal production I’ve participated in. Plus, if I don’t make the sale, I can still make a profit off of their calves for years.
Parents’ names/activities/clubs/ sports: My parents are Elizabeth and Justin Sommerfeld. Some of the other school organizations I am involved in are Interact, I’ve been the manager/assistant coach for the powerlifting team and have been on the Varsity golf team.
I’m also a Life Boy Scout with Troop 138 (currently working on my Eagle Scout project) and am very involved with 4-H (I do rifle, beef, leadership, STEM projects, and will do poultry this year). I serve as a Texas State 4-H Shooting Sports Ambassador, and am an active member with the St. James Lutheran Church in Ganado.
