Blog – Page 3 – Missouri FFA and Agriculture Education

Sep 16 2025

Survivin’ and Thrivin’

2025-2026, Maddy Rash

Maddy Rash, 2025-26 VP

When I sat down to write this blog, I wasn’t sure how to start. Honestly, beginnings trip me up sometimes, but once I get going, I’m fine. Maybe you’ve felt the same way before.

Back in high school, I remember looking at state officers like they were celebrities. They seemed perfect: calm, confident and put together. I thought their lives were stress-free and ideal. But when it came time for me to step into these shoes, I quickly realized how wrong I was.

Life has come at me fast. Interviews, Convention, graduation, training, camps and now, college. Each brought challenges I never could have predicted. And let me tell you, college hit me harder than I expected. Suddenly, I was navigating situations I never imagined, and it hasn’t been easy.

But here’s what I’ve learned: being a state officer doesn’t make me any different from you. I’m not above the struggles of everyday life. I get stressed, overwhelmed and lost at times, too. The title doesn’t erase the bumps in the road – it just means I get to walk through them alongside you.

At the end of the day, state officers are students, friends and people trying to figure things out just like you are. We’re not perfect. We face the same challenges, take the same unexpected detours and keep moving forward the same way you do.

Together, we’re all survivin’ and thrivin’.

Sep 15 2025

Don’t Let Comparison be the Thief of Your Joy

2025-2026, Abigayle Lett

103

Abigayle Lett, 2025-26 VP

I still remember the excitement I felt when I was in sixth grade and my oldest cousin joined FFA. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. From the jackets to the early morning FFA events and the excitement of barnwarming, I couldn’t wait. But when my time finally came, the excitement fell quickly. Instead of feeling proud, I felt behind.

I didn’t have an impressive Supervised Agricultural Experience. I barely knew anything about agriculture, let alone leadership. I started doubting myself. Every shortcoming felt huge and, slowly, comparison began stealing the joy I once felt in ag class. A place I had loved became a place where I was constantly asking for help just to understand.

As I stepped into the next year, something shifted. I found areas where I thrived and some of my classmates struggled. Slowly, I started to see that everyone struggles somewhere. Maybe you are great in the greenhouse but lost in animal science. Maybe you’ve never touched a welding torch but you light up during a speech. I started to understand that success in FFA doesn’t just follow one path. Just as I was beginning to look at things differently, one of my best friends shared a quote with me. “Don’t let comparison be the thief of your joy.” It hit me hard. I had been so focused on what I wasn’t that I forgot to appreciate who I was and how far I had come.

Whether you’re just starting your FFA journey or finishing your final year, I hope you always remember this:

Stop comparing. Start growing.
Your journey is yours alone.
You are good enough!

Keep showing up. Keep trying your best and above all, don’t let comparison steal the joy YOU have earned.

Aug 20 2025

From Smoke to Strategy

2025-2026, Braxton Watts

104

Braxton Watts, 2025-26 VP

In the fire service, we train for what we hope never happens. But sometimes, the best lessons come when you don’t even realize you’re being tested.

One evening during a monthly meeting at our volunteer fire station, we were discussing upcoming events with our chief when all of a sudden, someone noticed smoke rising outside the back window. Without hesitation, I jumped into one of the firetrucks and sat in the passenger seat, adrenaline rushing, waiting for someone to drive.

But no one came.

I sat there, ready to respond, while the rest of the crew stayed back and observed the flames. What I didn’t know was that our fire chief had orchestrated a training scenario. He asked a volunteer to start a controlled burn and told the crew to respond as if it were real. So while I sat in the truck, my team was evaluating the fire.

Eventually, someone joined me in the truck, and we rolled around the building and began our response. Once we were on the scene, our previous training kicked in and we handled it smoothly. But the moment stuck with me.

I realized then that being ready isn’t just about acting fast. It’s about knowing when and how to act. That lesson has followed me far beyond the fire station.

In FFA, we’re often put in situations where we’re eager to lead, whether it’s jumping into a new role, joining a contest or taking charge during a project. But sometimes, leadership means slowing down, reading the room and trusting the process.

Our leadership roles, SAEs, CDEs and even the unexpected moments, they’re all part of our training. They prepare us not just to react, but to respond with intention.

In life and in leadership, the most meaningful growth doesn’t always come during the fire, it comes in the moments right before it.

Aug 19 2025

Drive to Feed Kids

Trending Now

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!

WHAT IS THE DRIVE TO FEED KIDS?

The Drive to Feed Kids successfully launched in 2017 and built collaborative partnerships among non-profit organizations and agriculture businesses who have committed to standing in the gap of food insecurity. In rural Missouri, as many as one in six people face food insecurity. Among children, the numbers are even higher. In parts of Missouri, one in three children face food insecurity on a regular basis. In an effort to combat childhood food insecurity, Missouri Farmers Care leveraged the existing food bank distribution networks to deliver kid-friendly meals to youth through backpack programs and in-school food pantries. Missouri FFA joined the effort through an annual State Day of Service meal packing event at the Missouri State Fair!

THE VOLUNTEERS

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!

HOW YOU CAN HELP

The Drive to Feed Kids opens a door for every Missourian to make a difference in the fight against hunger in our state. All proceeds are dedicated to Feeding Missouri’s network food banks who work daily to alleviate hunger, and every dollar makes a difference in our Missouri communities. Learn more at https://mofarmerscare.com/drive/.

Aug 18 2025

Shoulders Back, Head High

2025-2026, Cash Honeycutt

103

Cash Honeycutt, 2025-26 VP

“Pull your shoulder’s back Cash, walk with confidence.” My mother was always on me about my awful posture growing up. I often walked and stood with my shoulders slumped down like a child pouting in the corner. I would always roll my eyes and say, “It’s fine, Mom,” as I ignored the advice that she had given me. However, she was always insistent that it mattered and people were always paying attention whether you thought so or not. Confidence is key, no matter what you’re doing, as I soon found out.

Growing up, one thing I loved was bull riding. The PBR and legends like J.B Mauney were the coolest things to me, and I hoped one day I could do that too. My dad had actually rodeoed quite a bit through his childhood and eventually, after a lot of begging, he reluctantly allowed me to begin steer riding, which is for youth too young for the large bulls yet. I had not been long when I found myself in Barnard, Missouri for a weekend. I had already gotten bucked off and stepped on Saturday, so I was hoping to have a good day on Sunday. However, as I made my way to the draw sheet, I realized I had drawn the toughest steer in the pen. Fear quickly consumed me and as the event got closer, it only got worse. Soon enough, I was lowering myself into the chute and wrapping my hand in the bull rope. Still consumed with fear, I nodded my head; in an instant I felt myself land on the dirt head first. A broken rib and concussion later, I was going to be out for a while.

I eventually made a comeback and rode a few more steers before realizing it just wasn’t for me like I had thought it would be. But I learned an important lesson – looking back on that day, had I been confident in my abilities and went into it with a more open mind, I might not have ridden that steer, but I believe it wouldn’t have turned out nearly as bad as it did. As we go through our journeys in FFA and life, we might be thrown into situations we don’t feel ready for. However, if you have an open mind and the confidence to try, nothing will be able to stand in your way.

Aug 17 2025

Stay Competitive

2025-2026, Gage Swindler

103

Gage Swindler, 2025-26 VP

For as long as I can remember, I have always loved playing sports. As I grew older, I became more and more invested in my sports teams, which built me into the competitive person I am today. In high school, my two favorite sports to play were football and baseball. I was lucky enough to be surrounded by a close group of friends that also had very similar competitive mindsets. We were dedicated to our team and we were going to give it everything we had in order to hopefully win. Throughout our four years of high school, this competitive mindset allowed us to achieve a lot of success for our small school.

When I started my FFA journey my freshman year, it didn’t take me long to put this competitive mindset I had developed to use, whether it was fall speeches, spring CDEs and LDEs or even just playing games at my chapter’s barnwarming. I enjoyed being surrounded by other members who had that same competitive mindset we use to chase our goals. I have been able to meet a lot of great people and make a lot of good friends by competing against them at FFA contests or sporting events, many of whom I still talk to today. While we are being competitive, it is important we continue to be mindful of others and don’t allow our competitiveness to get in the way of friendships. When you look back, those friendships are what you are going to remember the most.

I encourage you all to stay competitive and use it to chase your goals.

Aug 15 2025

Success is a Mindset

2025-2026, Taylor Nothdurft

104

Taylor Nothdurft, 2025-26 VP

I used to think success was about being perfect, crossing all the “t’s” and dotting all the “i’s” and achieving all the goals. In high school, I’d find myself overanalyzing what I could’ve done better even when I’d done something I was truly proud of. Being a state officer has shifted this. I’ve come to understand success isn’t about being perfect. It’s about enjoying the ride and learning from every experience.

I know success is mental. It’s about embracing the imperfection and learning to be happy with the progress you do achieve when things do not go as planned. Instead of stressing about what I cannot change, I opt to go with the flow and find the silver lining in every situation. Success is in the attempting, the gaining of knowledge, and in being able to step back, breathe and smile at where you have gotten.

Success is a process and not a destination. It’s persistence, not perfection. So, to all who think they are just not there yet, remember: your mindset defines your success. Take pride in your journey. Celebrate those small wins and never forget to enjoy the moment.

Jul 22 2025

Stop and Smell the Roses

2025-2026, Ryatt Haggerman

103

Ryatt Haggerman, 2025-26 Secretary

If you have ever met me, you know I love to take in each and every moment, no matter how small it might be. I was not always this way, though, and it has taken me a long time to realize we all need to slow down every once and awhile and live in the moment. I started to understand how important this was toward the end of my junior year of high school when I saw my time in high school was coming to a close. I realized the next year was going to be filled with a lot of lasts. My last fall speech, my last spring contest season, and even my last year serving as a chapter officer. But I also realized I never really stopped to enjoy those different moments for the past three years I had been part of them.

Over the past three years, I had been looking at what the next step was. Always asking the question, what was the next big thing I could be a part of? It never occurred to me that I was living in the moments that were worth slowing down for. We all know life can get pretty busy; sometimes it feels like we have a million different things needing our attention. It is when all we start focusing all of our energy on is all of these different problems and responsibilities that we forget to live in the moment.

I am not asking us to always be perfect when it comes to living in the moment. All of us have times of uncertainty where we can’t help but worry about the future. All I am asking is that we try to stop and smell the roses a little more often.

Jul 20 2025

Be Okay with Being Uncomfortable

2025-2026, Ivy Elwell

101

Ivy Elwell, 2025-26 President

“Be okay with being uncomfortable.” I have thought about this advice a lot during my time in FFA. However, it has taken me a while to fully understand what it means. This summer, I had the opportunity to spend two weeks at FFA Camp. Before heading to Camp, I was dreading my two weeks there. I had never been to camp before, so it was a little bit like I was being thrown into the deep end. I did not even get to just be a camper and knew I would be pushed to be a leader. Camp was filled with many new opportunities and interactions with new people that took me out of my comfort zone. As my time at Camp Rising Sun ended, I was wishing I could sign up for more time. Sometimes, it is okay and even important to be uncomfortable in order to grow.

For most of my time in FFA, I stayed stuck in doing the things I enjoy and have not always been the best at trying new things. I did speech contest after speech contest, but pretty much never signed up to be on a CDE team. Speech contests were like a crutch for me, as I had done so many that I knew what to expect, and I have to admit, contest teams were a little bit intimidating. Still, when my advisor asked me to fill in on the poultry team for the Central District Contest, I said, “yes.” It ended up being one of the best experiences of my FFA career. So, take the time to try something new in FFA and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Sometimes a little discomfort brings the most growth and makes for the best memories.

Jul 15 2025

Not Throwing Away Your Shot

2025-2026, Annie Neely

103

Annie Neely, 2025-26 VP

Ever since I was seven years old, I have been a superfan of the Broadway musical, Hamilton. This show combined my love for American history and music, as I have seen the film on Disney+ many times, watched it in person and blasted the soundtrack for years. One particular song has always stayed with me: “My Shot.” This third track, sung by a young Alexander Hamilton, captures the hunger and drive of the future Founding Father. The song’s most popular lyric, “I’m not throwin’ away my shot,” showed that Hamilton refused to let opportunity pass him by and was determined to make the most of it.

FFA helped me understand the importance of taking every opportunity. As a freshman, I set a goal of making it into the National FFA Band. I was nervous about applying, because very few underclassmen got into the band each year. Despite being anxious, I decided to submit my application. A few months later, I got the email congratulating me on making the National FFA Band. While I had doubted myself, the band directors saw something and took a chance on me. Had I not put myself out there, I would have missed out on one of my favorite FFA memories.

Missouri FFA members, I encourage you to take every opportunity. While you have time left, whether you are an incoming freshman or entering your last year of high school, do not throw away your shot in FFA. Apply for that chapter officer position, bring your animal to show at the county fair or write a speech to present in a fall speaking contest. There will come a day when you will have to take off your blue jacket for the final time, but until then, I hope that you–like Alexander Hamilton–will not throw away your shot.

Jun 26 2025

Choose Joy Daily

2025-2026, Noah Groose

103

Noah Grosse, 2025-26 VP

“Choose joy daily, and throw kindness around like confetti.” I first read this quote in an issue of Brio Magazine a few years ago. I had a subscription to these magazines that focus on growing your faith through short devotionals and analyzing scripture. As I collected a pile of Brio magazines, I decided to cut out the pages with colorful graphic designs of Bible verses and inspirational quotes to decorate my closet door. A few months later, I realized I had been neglecting the valuable words I had taped onto my door and made the goal of memorizing them. While I reread the quotes, one stood out to me. This quote by Grace Valentine was short, to the point and the easiest to memorize because I loved the meaning behind it.

Being joyful truly is a daily decision. Sometimes it is easier to grumble about how tired you are, complain about hard assignments or gossip about people you do not get along with. Being positive takes effort and may even be the most difficult thing you do in a day. However, choosing joy is the most rewarding thing you can do. You can create a good day out of a mediocre one or find the positive in hard situations. Choosing joy also benefits others. A friend may wish to ask you for advice or help them choose joy.

Throwing something around may seem careless and irresponsible, but why should you hold back your kindness from the world? Your kindness may become the joy another person needs in their day. It is also free to you, so do not put a price on your kindness by making others “earn” it from you.

Confetti is commonly associated with parties or celebrations, and I believe that joy and kindness are to be shared, too. You can share the joy you find in your hobbies and interests with others who may be beginners or wish to learn more about something you have experience with.

This quote I read years ago has become an important piece of my life. I have since re-read it many times on good and bad days, submitted it for my senior quote in my school’s yearbook, and recently brought it with me to the Missouri FFA State Officer selections. I wrote it down on a large notepad with colorful markers, reminding me how this simple quote has brought so much color into my life, and stuck it to the wall to bring others encouragement.

I hope that you choose joy today and decide to throw kindness into other people’s lives!

Jun 22 2025

Rock Your Crocs

2025-2026, Sophia Geppert

101

Sophia Geppart, 2025-26 VP

As a child, I did not have a favorite shirt, blanket or tiara. I had a favorite pair of shoes. Ever since I can remember, I have always had a pair of Crocs on my feet. These are my signature shoes. When I was a toddler, I wore pink Crocs that looked like alligators, elementary school brought Mickey Mouse Crocs and now I wear teal Crocs. These shoes made me who I am; they are a significant aspect of my identity. I always felt confident if I was wearing these shoes. In middle school, this attitude changed. When I wore my favorite Crocs to school during 6th grade, I started to get funny questions. “Why are you wearing Crocs?” “Aren’t those just house slippers?” “Those are lame shoes.” People did not think Crocs were the best shoe like I did. I slowly stopped wearing my favorite Crocs out in public, saving them for the comfort of my home.

Once I reached high school, I started to become more confident. Even though people still made jokes about my shoe of choice, I learned that their words did not affect me. They may not like my shoes, but my Crocs make me happy, and that is all that matters. I found friends that accepted me for who I was. Even though my friends may not think Crocs are as cool as I do, they still respect that these shoes make me happy.

Don’t change something about you just because others don’t like it. I let what others thought about me prevent me from wearing my favorite shoes. There are people out there who will love this real, authentic version of you. Changing to fit in with the crowd puts a cage around the real you. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. Missouri FFA, don’t be afraid to rock your Crocs.

Jun 18 2025

2025 Alumni & Supporters Reunion

Foundation

The Missouri FFA Foundation is once again hosting the Annual FFA Alumni & Supporters Reunion held during the Missouri State Fair.

Guests can enjoy a great meal and catch up with fellow FFA Alumni members August 9 at the Taylor Woods Memorial Building. Reservations may be made here: Donorbox.org/events/762201.

Click flyer to view larger.

Jun 14 2025

I Can and I Will

2025-2026, Lindsey McDonald

Lindsey McDonald, 2025-26 VP

Yes, I can.

I’ve always told myself to expect the worst possible outcome. Any time I would deliver a speech, submit an application or turn in a test, I always immediately told myself that I failed. Why did I do this, you might ask? Because I was scared of the disappointment that came with failure. If I set my expectations on the floor, there was no way for me to be disappointed. It didn’t matter if I knew the test material inside and out, or I gave the best speech of my life, I automatically failed in my head.

This made my wins seem a lot sweeter in my head. I had already decided that I couldn’t, so I had proved myself wrong on that front. I mean, sure, my losses didn’t sting as much…right? But it left me with a question sitting in the back of my head: “What if I had believed that I could?” If I had confidence in myself and went in with a positive mindset instead of constantly putting myself down, what more could I have accomplished?

Failure is a necessary part of life that helps us grow and learn. When we learn to embrace failure, we unlock all of the valuable knowledge that comes with it. Once we gain that knowledge, we can no longer count it a failure, because we’ve gained the experience and are better because of it. But let’s not forget, embracing failure does not equal expecting failure. Don’t tell yourself, “No, I can’t,” but “Yes, I can, and I will!”

Jun 14 2025

Against The Current

2025-2026, Kolton Stolba

Kolton Stolba, 2025-26 VP

Have you ever felt like you’re swimming against the current? I did, especially when I decided a shark hat was the perfect touch to my outfit at Area Officer Institute. What started as a quirky fashion statement turned into a powerful lesson about embracing my unique path, both in and out of FFA. It was something small, but it instantly made me recognizable the whole 24 hours I wore it. The rest of the weekend, I was “the guy in the shark hat,” and this opened so many new doors and created friendships. I wasn’t worried about standing out; I was just being myself, and I was okay with being different.

Whenever I think of sharks, I think of an American staple: the Bass Pro Shops Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium. The second you enter the aquarium, you’re greeted by a school of fish. You look up and see all of these fish swimming in one direction together. But what stands out to me are the fish that are different in a way. They are swimming in the opposite direction. This opened my eyes to see you don’t always have to follow the current. You can take a different path and embrace being different.

As I progress in life, I’ve noticed my path will be different. Unlike most of my teammates, I am not attending college. I’ve always done things differently, and I’m sure you have too. It may feel like swimming against the current, but I’ve learned not to let that discourage me.

As FFA members, we all have something that makes us different. Embrace your different path. Don’t be afraid to swim against the current. It doesn’t make you less. In fact, it makes you authentically you. Being true to that difference doesn’t close doors; it actually opens entirely new ones to unique opportunities. Dare to be different and don’t be afraid to go against the current.