Moritz works on family farm, lawn-care business

STREATOR, Ill. — The work that Lance Moritz has invested in his family farm has resulted in national recognition as a finalist for the American Star in Agricultural Placement achievement award.

“I have a record book for diversified horticulture and crop production,” said Moritz, who is the fourth generation at Moritz Farms near Streator.

The American Star Awards will be presented on Friday, Nov. 3, during the 96th National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis.

In addition to Moritz, the other finalists for American Star in Agricultural Placement are: Riley Berger, Ridgewood FFA Chapter in Ohio; Jaxson Collier, Synder FFA Chapter in Texas; and Whitney Glazier, Omega FFA Chapter in Oklahoma.

“It is still kind of a shock,” said Moritz about being selected as one of the top four in the nation for the award. “I didn’t have any words at all.”

For his horticulture book, the Streator FFA member works for Moritz Lawn Care, which has over 100 customers.

“I have about 27 customers and my responsibility is to take care of them on a weekly basis,” he said. “I communicate with them to see if they have other needs such as bush trimming.”

The family farm consists of about 3,500 acres with a corn-soybean rotation.

“My responsibility is to plant the soybeans and I also assist my dad with other needs like running the combine to harvest corn and soybeans,” said the son of Jeff and Mary Moritz.

“I am also responsible for doing maintenance on the equipment and meeting with landlords,” the FFA member said.

During high school, Moritz enjoyed going to local FFA activities, including career development events and communicating with other chapters.

“I had the opportunity to travel with the FFA to Ireland, which was a great honor,” said Moritz, who is advised by Riley Hintzsche and Gwen Heimerdinger. “We went to see how things were done in a different part of the world.”

Moritz was also the plot manager for the Streator FFA Chapter.

“It was my responsibility to line up the person in the local area that would donate their equipment and time to bale the hay,” he said. “I also was responsible to contact someone who was interested in purchasing the hay.”

The award finalist has completed his degree in agronomy from Illinois Valley Community College.

“Now I’m getting more involved in helping to manage the farm,” he said. “I’m working to make our farm a better operation by making investments to purchase equipment and grow it in size by renting or buying more land.”

FFA members, Moritz said, should get take advantage of the organization’s activities as much as possible.

“Be active and push yourself to keep involved and it will be a good turnout,” he said.