Ila Richardson named 2025 Oregon Star Farmer during 97th annual Oregon FFA State Convention

A big fan of all things livestock and farming as far back as she can remember, Eagle Point High School senior Ila Richardson capped off her high school Ag career by establishing her own herd of cattle, running a successful breeding program and being recognized for over a decade of hard work.

Named 2025 Oregon Star Farmer during the 97th annual Oregon FFA State Convention, held in late March, Richardson entered this year’s FFA competition for Oregon Star Farmer “just for fun.”

The annual event highlights the state’s FFA program which boasts nearly 15,500 members and about 120 chapters.

“I was applying for beef entrepreneurship proficiency because I had been raising my own cattle and selling from my own herd,” she recently told the Rogue Valley Times.

Richardson, who turns 18 in July, said she was shocked when her name was announced during the convention. The Star Farmer is awarded to FFA members that demonstrate “outstanding achievement, active FFA participation and an exemplary scholastic record.”

Richardson’s passion for working with cattle began before entering school, raised in Southern Oregon by parents with their own backgrounds in 4H and FFA.

Justin and Dr. Leslie Richardson, a local veterinary doctor, ventured to Kansas City, where the national convention was held until 1999, during their years at Crater High School to compete on championship livestock judging teams. Both parents were gold medal-earning judges mentored by renowned longtime Crater ag advisor John Dimick.
Childhood photos of Richardson nearly all involve animals of one kind or another and her earliest memories involve tagging along on veterinary calls with her mom. 

For the past four years, she and her younger twin sisters, Eva and Emma, hit the competition circuit, traveling the U.S. to compete in “jackpot” livestock shows. The sisters’ shared brand for competitions and combined ventures is “Screaming 3.”
Richardson’s work to develop her own herd began about four years ago.

“I got my first heifer when I was about 8 yrs old. I had shown pigs before that … and sheep and goats, a little bit of everything,” she said. 

Her foundation cow, Material Girl, a.k.a. Mattie, is a pure-bred angus heifer, responsible for most of her almost 20 head of cattle.

“She delivered the steer I showed last year. I was Reserve Champion FFA Market steer for 2024. It felt pretty good because everything I’ve shown are cows that I had bred and raised and grown.”

As to the moment she was announced as the state’s Star Farmer, Richardson said she could not “put the words together to describe how it felt.”

Justin Richardson said he was surprised, “but not shocked” by his daughter’s successes.

“She’s always been pretty legit and just a really hard worker,” he said.

“I think she was 4 when I heard the coffee grinder fire up. She was making her mom and I a pot of coffee. … She’s always been really driven and able to figure things out for herself and just really independent.”

The soon-to-be 18-year-old will head to college in the fall, first to Fort Scott Community College in Kansas, where she’ll compete on their livestock judging team and study animal science and, long term, transferring to Kansas State University.

She eventually hopes to earn a doctorate in veterinary medicine and plans to run her own cattle operation. But she’s open to whatever comes her way.

“I’ve just always been very passionate about being around animals. I’ve loved animals my whole life but I never imagined the impact they would have,” she said.

“Long term, I want to become a vet but also continue breeding cattle and selling to kids in 4H and FFA as a way to support those programs.”

Eagle Point High School Ag advisor Keegan Hertensen called Richardson an asset to the school’s animal sciences program.

“She pours her heart and soul into everything she does and continually pushes herself and those around her to work hard and be the best they can be,” Hertensen said.

“Her being awarded the Oregon State Star Farmer is a moment I know I’ll never forget. Seeing her many years of hard work and the hours that she put into the application finally pay off on stage was absolutely incredible. I couldn’t think of a more deserving individual, and I know I speak for many when I say that she makes us so proud every day, and I can’t wait to see the amazing things she accomplishes in her future.”

Reach reporter Buffy Pollock at 458-488-2029 or buffy.pollock@rv-times.com. Follow her on Twitter @orwritergal.