INDIANAPOLIS — Two members of the Randolph-Cambria-Friesland FFA were named American Stars at the national FFA convention last week — Benjamin Alsum and Tony Crescio, both of Randolph.
These awards are two of the most prestigious offered by the National FFA. Both are invited to ride the FFA Float in the 2010 Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif.
When you mention business to Alsum, be specific. This 21-year-old doesn’t have just one area of expertise, he has three — cattle-raising, customized baling and produce. It’s this entrepreneurial spirit that has Alsum vying for one of the National FFA Organization’s top awards.
Alsum was named 2009 American Star in Agribusiness.
What do peppermint, onions and carrots have in common? These crops helped Crescio become more familiar with his family’s agriculture background. The 21-year-old has been farming with his family for as long as he can remember, and that experience may now earn him top honors.
The National FFA Organization named Crescio the 2009 American Star in Agricultural Placement.
Alsum’s experience with the produce business began when he was in middle school. His family sold sweet corn, vegetables, pumpkins and Indian corn at various stands across central and southeast Wisconsin. In 2005, Alsum purchased two percent of Alsum Sweet Corn. This endeavor was made possible through his expanding business, Ben’s Bovine Beauties. This business—venture, along with a customized baling business— began early in Alsum’s FFA career. They taught him the importance of enterprises and allowed him to increase his ownership of Alsum Sweet Corn to 25 percent. He hopes to grow it to 40 percent by the end of the year.
“Much of my success should go to FFA and the experiences I have gained from being an active member,” Alsum said. “Interacting with other FFA members and traveling to FFA events and activities have given me a diverse background in experiences, many of which relate to my SAE and its success.”
Alsum, the son of Scott and Lona Alsum, is a member of the Randolph-Cambria-Friesland FFA and his advisor is Keith Gundlach.
Crescio works with muck soil at Jack’s Pride Farms. He began when he was in middle school, and the more he worked with his family, the more he became fascinated with the crops and the equipment that was needed to help with a successful harvest. Crescio wanted to be able to help with all areas of the farm and develop a solid based onion, carrot and mint oil production business.
Over the years, he’s been able to learn all aspects of the farm He has even received recognition as a national agri-entrepreneurship national winner for starting a small business creating air fresheners and soaps with the mint oil.
As he continues to gain experience, Crescio’s responsibilities on the farm continue to grow. From tilling to planting and harvesting, he also helps with weed control for the plants. He also runs the still to distill peppermint oil. His overall career goal is to farm with his father, uncle and grandmother as a partner in the corporate farm.
“With my goal to become a partner in our farm corporation, I have farmed 40 acres of my own peppermint for the last four years,” Crescio said. “The money from this has helped me pay for school, as well as assisted me in saving money to buy into the corporation.”
Crescio, the son of John and Irma Crescio, majored in mechanical drawing at Madison Area Technical College. He is also a member of the Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA chapter with Gundlach as an advisor.
Each year at the national FFA convention, 16 national finalists vie for the organization’s top awards: American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement and American Star in Agriscience.
Each finalist was interviewed by a panel of judges and the winner receives a plaque and an award of $4,000.