Primghar, Iowa — A woman who’s been a mechanic at a John Deere dealership in northwest Iowa for the past three years is one of four finalists for a national honor.
Kellie Einck, a 2014 graduate of South O’Brien Community School, is nominated for the National FFA Organization’s “American Star” award for her work.
Einck, who is 22 years old, works on tractors and combines at the dealership in Paullina and admits she often gets strange looks from the farmers who see a woman working in the machine shop. The “American Star” is the highest honor within the F-F-A. Each year four are awarded. Einck and this year’s other “American Star” nominees will be interviewed today (Wednesday) and tomorrow (Thursday) in Indianapolis.
The four “American Star” winners will be announced Thursday evening at the F-F-A’s national convention. Einck grew up in Primghar and joined F-F-A when she was in high school to explore her fascination with how engines worked.
Photo Caption: Kellie Einck in 2015
