The John Justin "Standard of the West" Award is designed to recognize FFA members who exemplify the spirit of agriculture along with their work ethic and family values. The selection criteria for the award are based upon the individual's integrity, honesty, helpfulness, perseverance, grades and school attendance. This year’s 2010 John Justin "Standard of the West" state winner is Claire Luensmann of the La Vernia FFA Chapter in Area VII.

Claire graduated from La Vernia High School where she was Salutatorian of her class in 2009.  While a member of the La Vernia FFA, with Mr. Kevin Sells and Mrs. Jennifer Kotzur as her advisors, her project program consisted of raising market swine, breeding swine, market turkeys and market rabbits.  Her involvement in FFA also included participating on a number of leadership and judging teams including Junior and Senior Chapter Conducting, Senior Quiz, Poultry Evaluation, Floriculture, and Dairy Foods.  As a sophomore, her Senior Quiz Team won first at state, and she was named 2nd High Individual.  Claire also received her Lone Star Farmer Degree, and as a senior, she traveled to the national convention where she was on the National Champion Poultry Judging Team and had the distinct honor of being named the 1st High Individual in the nation.  Her officer positions included Chapter Vice President and Chapter President.

Throughout high school, Claire was also a member of the Guadalupe County 4-H where she was President of the Clemens 4-H Club and Secretary of the County Council.  She was also a member of the Guadalupe County 4-H Livestock Judging Team, which received 1st Place at the American Royal in Kansas City, Missouri in 2008.  Additionally, she was President of the La Vernia Chapter National Honor Society and a class officer. She participated in UIL Feature Writing, and she was a counselor at the Texas Farm Bureau Youth Leadership Conference.

Claire is currently attending Texas A&M University (TAMU) and is pursuing a degree in agricultural economics.  She has continued her judging career in college as she was on the Texas A&M Collegiate Wool Evaluation Team.  Her team won first at multiple contests, and she was High Point Individual at the West Texas Invitational Wool Contest.  This year, she is serving as assistant coach to the 2010-2011 TAMU wool team. She was also a member of the Freshman Leadership Experience through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences where she served on the Service Committee.  Claire was responsible for organizing and participating in many community service projects in the Bryan-College Station community. She participates in the Saddle and Sirloin Club, Pre Law Society and Agricultural Economics Society.  Claire's passion for agriculture is unparalleled, and therefore her future plans are to attend law school and ultimately help to promote and advance the public policy interests of agriculturalists to preserve the future of the agriculture industry.

Claire was named this year’s John Justin "Standard of the West" state winner at the 82nd Annual Texas FFA Convention in Corpus Christi, Texas.

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