Trending Now

Missouri is well represented at the upcoming 2025 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana

Jaden Decker & Jensen Decker Centralia Div. 4, Animal Systems
Athena Wilson & Jaxon Marsh Pleasant Hope Div. 4, Environ. Services & Nat. Resource Systems
Alexis Peterman & Allie Yescas Pleasant Hope Div. 4, Food Products & Processing Systems
Arwen Mehl & Kylee Agee Pleasant Hope Div. 6, Food Products & Processing Systems
Kyra Keeling & Orrionna Mehl Pleasant Hope Div. 4, Plant Systems
Lexi Perryman Pleasant Hope Div. 5 Power, Structural & Technical Systems
Brody Swindler Carrollton ACC Div. 3, Social Science
Ethan Pearce & Samuel Alvarez Milan Div. 4, Social Science
Isabel Morris & Lucy Conger Rolla Div. 6, Social Science

• Lynn Dyer Higginsville Agricultural Education
• Casey Vannoy North Shelby Agricultural Mechanics Repair & Maintenance-Ent.
• Mitchell Herigon Boonville Agricultural Mechanics Repair & Maintenance-Pl.
• Chase Hall Clopton Agricultural Services- Entrepreneurship/Placement
• Madeliene Pollard Lathrop Diversified Crop Production – Entrepreneurship
• Destiny Deleon Milan Diversified Horticulture-Entrepreneurship/Placement
• Alexa Groeber Montgomery City Envir. Science & Nat. Res. Mgmt. – Entrepreneurship/Pl.
• Troy Zeilstra Brunswick Fruit Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement
• James Baker Memphis Goat Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement
• Cordray Baker Brookfield Landscape Installation – Entrepreneurship/Placement
• Abigayle Lett Odessa Specialty Crop Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement
• Grant Oaks Newtown-Harris Swine Production – Entrepreneurship
• Carter Bell Rich Hill Wildlife Prod. & Mgmt. – Entrepreneurship/Placement

• 30 Three Star Chapters — Highest award for chapter
  8 Two Star Chapters – Second highest award for chapters
• Premier Chapter Awards

Paris Premier Chapter-Strengthening Agriculture

Centralia Premier Chapter-Strengthening Agriculture

Centralia Premier Chapter-Building Communities

Ag Communications-Versailles
Ag Issues Forum-Troy
Ag Sales – Tipton
Ag Mechanics – North Shelby
Agronomy – Elsberry
Conduct of Meetings – Republic
Creed – Madelyn Sampson, Kirksville
Dairy Cattle – Neosho
Employment Skills – Christian Siegel, Columbia
Environment & Natural Resources—Mt. Vernon
Extemporaneous Speaking – Kristin Waters, Norborne
Farm Business Mgt – Palmyra
Floriculture – Palmyra
Food Science – Neosho
Forestry – Forsyth
Horse – Logan-Rogersville
Livestock – Braymer
Meats – Savannah
Milk Quality – Neosho
Nursery/Landscape – Pleasant Hill
Parliamentary – Troy
Poultry – Green Ridge
Public Speaking – Makala Methvin, Bolivar
Vet Science – Eldon

• 757 American Degree Recipients – #1 in number recipients
• 12 National Delegates
• National Officer Candidate – Braden Havlik, Silex
• 2 members performing in National Talent
  • Emma Pitford-Clark County
  • Kimberly Keith-Chillicothe
•  10 National Chorus Members
  Elizabeth Davidson, Ash Grove; Karina Lopez, Aurora; Gabriela Pedron, Aurora; Victor Sallas, California; Gracie Sappington, Dadeville; Lexi Brown, Fairfax; Riley Wilson, Boonville; Tony Jennings, Gilman City; Jayce Campbell, Eldon; Shyliah Robinson, Neosho.
• 13 National Band Members
  Abigail Rice, Brunswick; Cody Schneider, California; Addy Gaulke, Smithville; Taylor Lauer, Hermann; Fletcher Shoemaker, Oran; Jeremiah Leonard, Cabool; Gracie Billue, Salisbury; Kiersten Eads, Eldon; Molly Goos, Silex; Kathryn Farmer, Polo; Laramie Fenimore, Gallatin; Kyra Hester, Monroe City; Tanner Lorenson, Monroe City.
• 10 Teachers receiving Honorary American Degree –
  Tammy Bartholomew, Miami; Josh Bondy, Paris; Adam Brock, Higginsville; Darren Farmer, Polo; Kelly Lee, Braymer; John Osborn, Van Buren; Michelle Preslar, Fort Osage; Charles Simpson, Osceola; Kristy Sivils, Aurora; Sara White, Tuscumbia.
• 8 Individuals receiving Honorary American Degree –
  Dr. Mun Choi, President UM Systems-Columbia; Janet Adkison, Missouri Farm Bureau-Jefferson City; Brett Begemann, Retired COO of Monsanto/Bayer, St. Louis; Kate Lambert, FCS Financial, Chillicothe; Marie Davis, Northeast District Supervisor, Bowling Green; Dr. Andrew Clarke, University of Missouri, Columbia; Heather McKenzie and Nash McKenzie, Parents of Star Finalist, Boonville.
• 1 Individual receiving a National VIP Award –
  Keith Dietzschold, National FFA Board Member, Missouri Ag Ed Director, Jefferson City

Congratulations to the 2025-26 FFA in the USA Reporters. Throughout the school year, our reporters will cover all things FFA in their chapters and communities. You can read their stories and more on our FFA in the USA webpage.

Missouri FFA joined forces with Missouri Farmers Care and Feeding Missouri through the Drive to Feed Kids for an impactful State Day of Service at the Missouri State Fair!

This yearly meal packing event would not be possible without continuous supporters and volunteers. This year, they included:

• 600 FFA members from 70 chapters 
• Over 90 additional volunteers ‘
• Governor Kehoe and the Governor’s Cabinet
• State Board of Education
• Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn
• Missouri Highway Patrol
• Missouri Farmers Care
• Missouri State Fair
• Feeding Missouri
• Missouri’s agricultural organizations

This year’s State Day of Service meal packing event yielded 177,792 meals, breaking our goal of 175,000!

The Building Our American Communities (BOAC) Grant Program provides grants to Missouri FFA chapters and 4-H clubs for projects aimed at developing and advancing Missouri’s rural communities. Recipients of the 2025 BOAC program have been chosen and will be recognized at the 2025 Missouri FFA Convention.

• West Platte FFA Chapter, Weston (Platte County)
• Centralia FFA Chapter, Centralia (Boone County)
• Ashland FFA Chapter, Ashland (Boone County)
• Hartville FFA Chapter, Hartville (Wright County)
• Aurora FFA Chapter, Aurora (Lawrence County)
• Ste. Genevieve FFA Chapter, Ste. Genevieve (Ste. Genevieve County)
• Fredericktown FFA Chapter, Fredericktown (Madison County)
• Hermann FFA Chapter, Hermann (Gasconade County)
• Owensville FFA Chapter, Owensville (Gasconade County)
• Versailles FFA Chapter, Versailles (Morgan County)
• California FFA Chapter, California (Moniteau County)

The Missouri Agribusiness Academy is…

Since 1988, the Missouri Agribusiness Academy, also known as MAbA (pronounced ma-buh) has awarded more than 1,000 academy memberships to high school sophomores through a competitive application and interview process. Students are selected to participate in a year-long professional development opportunity that introduces them to industry leaders, personal growth and careers in agriculture. To be eligible for MAbA, students must come from a farming family or be an active FFA or 4-H member. The program is facilitated by the Missouri Department of Agriculture under the Department’s MORE Strategic Vision that works to empower the next generation of agriculture.

2024 Class Overview

The 2024 Missouri Agribusiness Academy toured the Springfield area last June. MAbA participants had a variety of unique experiences, from volunteering at a food bank to learning about beef, aquaculture, and more. They also heard from speakers on leadership and career development. Following the summer tour, the 2024 class participated in Missouri State Fair activities and a Legislative Day event at the State Capitol. Missouri FFA is proud of these 30 students for their dedication to the future of Missouri agriculture.

FCS Financial has awarded over $258,000 in Shaping Rural Missouri Grants since 2012, empowering Missouri 4-H and FFA organizations to improve their rural communities. The program provides $500 grants to support youth-led projects that foster positive change and development.

These grants enable clubs and chapters to implement impactful initiatives, making their communities better places to live. FCS Financial encourages collaboration with local organizations to maximize project success.

In 2024, FCS Financial funded 81 projects across Missouri, including building picnic tables, painting buildings, planting trees, and revitalizing downtown areas.

Missouri 4-H and FFA organizations are encouraged to apply for the Shaping Rural Missouri Grant by April 1, 2025. Applications and more information are available online at myfcsfinancial.com/about-us/shaping-rural-missouri or by calling 1-800-369-3276 ext. 1173.

Missouri Agricultural Education Director and Missouri FFA Association State Advisor, Keith Dietzschold, was named Outstanding State Supervisor. He was honored by the National Association of Supervisors of Agricultural Education (NASAE) during the organization’s annual conference, held October 22 in Indianapolis, Ind. Each year, NASAE recognizes members who have made outstanding contributions to agricultural education.

Dietzschold’s tenure in agricultural education spans over 40 years and has been marked by grit, organization and unwavering support for the industry. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science from the University of Missouri (MU) in 1982 and completed a Master’s in Education, Agriculture Education emphasis in December 1984.

A former agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor, Dietzschold taught in Chillicothe, Cameron and Lathrop before joining the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in 2011. In July 2021, he was named director of Missouri Agricultural Education.

According to retired National FFA Officer, Paxton Dahmer, in his recommendation letter, “Mr. Dietzschold has a unique ability to focus on traditions, while also being a visionary leader in our state to ensure that more students are able to reap the benefits of agricultural education than ever before. Mr. Dietzschold truly believes in agricultural education’s ability to transform young people into productive, employable members of society, and this belief is a driving force in his everyday role.”

As director of agricultural education and state FFA advisor, Dietzschold oversees Missouri’s agricultural education program, including the state’s 361 FFA chapters and 26,968 members. The FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

•  Record National Membership Announced – 1,027,273 from 9,235 chapters. 
• Attendance at the 97th National FFA Convention—71,954 members and guests. 
• Missouri has 27,044 members from 365 chapters. 

• The highest number of American FFA Degrees by state – 663 recipients – Missouri ranks 11th in overall FFA membership.The American Degree is the Highest Degree that can bestowed on a FFA member – Less than one-half of 1% receive the degree. As the highest degree achievable in the National FFA Organization, the American FFA Degree shows an FFA member’s dedication to his or her chapter and state FFA association. It demonstrates the effort FFA members apply toward their supervised agricultural experience and the outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement they exhibited through their FFA career. American FFA Degree recipients show promise for the future and have gone above and beyond to achieve excellence.

Honorary American FFA Degree:

12 recipients from Missouri 

Individuals who have provided exceptional service on a national level to agriculture, agricultural education, or FFA are eligible for the Honorary American FFA Degree. Additionally, teachers who have created high-quality agricultural education programs, which inspire and motivate their students to strive for success, are eligible. 

Friends of Missouri FFA—Dean Christopher Daubert, CAFNR, University of Missouri, Brad Driskill, State Fair Community College Agriculture Director, Bradley Schad, CEO, Missouri Corn Growers Association, Eric Volmer, Senior Director of Field Services, Missouri Farm Bureau, Cyndi Young-Puyear, Director of Brownfield Ag News & Learfield Ag, Erin Glarner, Director, Industry Relations, American Soybean Association. 

Current Instructors—Kerriann Brandt, Monroe City, Matthew Pendergrass, Doniphan, Amanda Reid, Concordia, Ellen Romero, Russellville, Martha Schreiman, Santa Fe, Devin Garland, Wellington-Napoleon. 

Chapter Recognition:

 29 Chapters received the highest chapter rating awarded – 3 Star – (Ashland, Aurora, Boonville, Bowling Green, California, Canton, Carthage, Centralia, Eldon, Exeter, Galena, Marshall, Mexico, Montgomery Co R-II, Mount Vernon, Neosho, Nixa, Osceola, Paris, Pettis Co. R-V, Rich Hill, Seneca, Slater, Sweet Springs, Trenton, Troy, Union and West Plains) 

8 Chapters received the second highest chapter rating awarded—2 Star – (Brunswick, Carrollton, Eldorado Springs, Farmington, Madison, Richmond, Tipton, Van-Far) 

The National Chapter Award Program is designed to recognize FFA chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. These chapters improve chapter operations using the National Quality Chapter Standards (NQCS) and a Program of Activities (POA) that emphasize growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture. Chapters are rewarded for providing educational experiences for the entire membership. 

The Osceola FFA Chapter was in the top three in the nation within the Strengthening Agriculture division of the National Chapter Award Program. Centralia was in the top ten within the Strengthening Agriculture division of the National Chapter Award Program. 

AgriScience Fair: 

The National FFA Agriscience Fair recognizes student researchers studying the application of agricultural scientific principles and emerging technologies in agricultural enterprises. The agriscience fair is for middle and high school students. Participation begins at the local level and progresses to state and national levels. 

• 7 Missouri FFA agriscience fair projects (with 10 participants) placed in the top ten in the nation. Those individuals were:
  • Animal Systems – Division 3 – Jaden Decker—Centralia FFA—9th place 
  • Animal Systems – Division 4 – Isabel Morris & Lucy Conger – Rolla FFA – 4th place
  • Environ Services/NRS – Division 3 – Athena Wilson-Pleasant Hope FFA – 10th place
  • Food Products – Division 3 – Brie Daily – Osceola FFA—6th place
  • Food Products – Division 4 – Loraine Arciniegas & Maddyson Alexander – Pleasant Hope FFA—3rd place
  • Power, Structural & Tech Sys.—Division 4—Gracie Pulley & Addison Rogers—Pleasant Hope FFA – 2nd place
  • Social Systems – Division 3 – Ellie Samek-Bolivar FFA—3rd place

National FFA Endorsed Activities:

National FFA is partnering with other organizations to create a variety of National FFA Endorsed Activities. National FFA staff has vetted these opportunities to ensure relevance and quality. Recognition will not take place at national convention, however it can be held in a similar timeframe as the National FFA Convention. 

• FFA Quiz Bowl Invitational Milan FFA won this competition for the second year in a row with team members: Jara Sanchez, Kendra Sayre, Daniel Cast Aneda, and Ethan Pearce. 

Proficiency Awards:

Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who, through supervised agricultural experiences, have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers. Nationally, students can compete for awards in 44 areas ranging from agricultural communications to wildlife management (see areas below). Proficiency awards are also recognized at local and state levels and provide recognition to members that are exploring and becoming established in agricultural career pathways. 

 8 National Finalist – top four in the nation based on their work based program.

•  Agricultural Education—Hayley Gruenewald—Silex FFA 
• Agricultural Mechanics Repair & Maintenance – Placement – Jacob McElhaney – Atlanta FFA 
•  Diversified Crop Production – Entrepreneurship – Aiden Matthew Plenge – Clark Co. FFA 
• Equine Science – Entrepreneurship – Alexis Mullins – St. James FFA 
• Goat Production – Lauren Hammett—Ashland FFA 
• Grain Production – Tyler Fenner – Sweet Springs FFA 

National Winners: 

• Diversified Horticulture Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement—Ava Bullard- Ashland FFA—NATIONAL WINNER 
• Dairy Production – Entrepreneurship –Cade Claycomb—Trenton FFA—NATIONAL WINNER 

Talent, Chorus and Band:

Talent Show—Missouri was well represented this year on the talent stage. 

• Emma Pitford—Clark Co. FFA earned a spot in the top 15 talent acts. 

Also performing on stages in venues around the National Convention:

• Rob Wollgast—Elsberry FFA 
• Tony Jennings—Gilman City FFA 
• Kennedy Parrish—Green City FFA 
• Ivory Schoonover—Nixa FFA 
• Kason Fuller, John Malter, Judd Malter Cody Marshall & Morgan Skidmore—Smithville FFA
• Chorus—Missouri had eleven participants including: Mary Davidson, Ash Grove; Karina Lopez, Aurora; Gabriela Pedron, Aurora; Logan Pinkham, Belton; Victor Sallas, California; Gracie Sappington, Dadeville; Lexi Brown, Fairfax; Liam Hansen, Mount Vernon; Leeanna Brown, Rich Hill; Quin Staten, Tarkio.
  
• Band—Missouri had six participants in the National FFA Band including: Carissa Simagna, Aurora; Abigail Rice, Brunswick; Jeremiah Leonard, Cabool; Cody Schneider, California; Lela Hartschen, North Harrison; Preston Ethridge, Poplar Bluff.