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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. 

• 12 National Delegates
• National Officer Candidate—Morgan Watkins, Fort Osage

• 2024-2025 FFA in the USA Reporters from Missouri:
  • Cierra Britton-Cuba
  • Tegan Herold-Palmyra
  • Abigayle Lett-Odessa
  • Blayde Lindsay-Brookfield
  • Mikaela Rojas-Linn County
  • Kolton Stolba-Willow Springs
  • Maycee Thouvenel-Versailles

• Next-Gen:Environmental Services & Natural Resources Conference:
  • Landon Pottebaum—Montgomery County
  • Caroline Stallman—Glasgow

• Grants for Growing Winners:
  • Mount Vernon FFA
  • North Platte FFA
  • Palmyra FFA
  • Tipton FFA
  • Savannah FFA
  • Winfield FFA

• Honorary American Degree Recipients:
  • Dean Christopher Daubert, University of Missouri
  • Brad Driskill, State Fair Community College
  • Bradley Schad, Missouri Corn
  • Eric Volmer, Missouri Farm Bureau
  • Cyndi Young-Puyear, Brownfield & Learfield Ag.
• Instructors Receiving Honorary American Degree:
  • Kariann Brandt, Monroe City
  • Matthew Pendergrass, Doniphan
  • Amanda Reid, Concordia
  • Ellen Romero, Russellville
  • Martha Schreiman, Santa Fe
  • Devin Garland, Wellington-Nepoleon
• Proficiency Award Finalists-8 Finalists
  • Agricultural Education — Hayley Gruenewald, Silex
  • Agricultural Mechanics Repair & Maintenance – Placement—Jacob McElhaney, Atlanta
  • Dairy Production – Entrepreneurship—Cade Claycomb
  • Diversified Crop Production – Entrepreneurship—Aiden Plenge, Clark County
  • Diversified Horticulture—Ava Bullard, Ashland
  • Equine Science – Entrepreneurship—Alexis Mullins, St. James
  • Goat Production—Lauren Hammett, Ashland
  • Grain Production—Tyler Fenner, Sweet Springs.

• Agriscience Fair Finalists—7 Finalists
  • Animal Systems, Div 3 — Jaden Decker, Centralia
  • Animal Systems, Div 4 — Isabel Morris & Lucy Conger, Rolla
  • Environmental Services & Natural Resource Systems, Div 3 — Athena Wilson, Pleasant Hope
  • Food Products & Processing Systems, Div 3 — Brie Dailey, Osceola
  • Food Products & Processing Systems, Div 4 — Loraine Arciniegas & Maddyson Alexander, Pleasant Hope
  • Power, Structural and Technical Systems, Div 4 — Gracie Pulley & Addison Rogers, Pleasant Hope
  • Social Science, Div 3 — Ellie Samek, Bolivar
• National Chapter Awards:
  • 29 Three Star Chapters – Highest award for chapter.
  • 8 Two Star Chapters – Second highest award for chapters.
• Premier Chapter Awards:
  • Osceola – Strengthening Agriculture – Top 3 Finalist
  • Centralia – Strengthening Agriculture – Top 10 Finalist

• Band, Chorus and Talent:
  • Accepted in the BAND:
    • Carissa Simagna-Aurora
    • Abigail Rice-Brunswick
    • Jeremiah Leonard-Cabool
    • Cody Schneider-California
    • Lela Hartschen-North Harrison
    • Preston Ethridge-Poplar Bluff
  • Accepted in CHORUS:
    • Mary Davidson-Ash Grove
    • Karina Lopez-Aurora
    • Gabriela Pedron-Aurora
    • Logan Pinkham-Belton
    • Victor Salas-California
    • Gracie Sappington-Dadeville
    • Lexi Brown-Fairfax
    • Isabella Hamner-Lake Career & Technical Center
    • Liam Hansen-Mt. Vernon
    • Leeanna Bell-Rich Hill
    • Quin Staten-Tarkio
  • Accepted in the TALENT Competition:
    • Emma Pitford-Clark County
    • Rob Wollgast-Elsberry
    • Tony Jennings-Gilman City
    • Kennedy Parrish-Green City
    • Ivory Schoonover-Nixa
    • Kayson Fuller-Smithville
    • John Malter-Smithville
    • Judd Malter-Smithville
    • Cody Marshall-Smithville
    • Morgan Skidmore-Smithville

• American Degree Recipients—
  Missouri (YOU DID IT AGAIN) #1 in American Degrees with 663. All applicants from MO were approved.

• CDE/LDE Participants—
  • Ag Communications-Richmond
  • Ag Issues Forum-Silex
  • Ag Sales – California
  • Ag Mechanics – North Shelby
  • Agronomy – North Shelby
  • Conduct of Meetings – Chillicothe
  • Creed – Jasmine Appledorn, Milan
  • Dairy Cattle – Logan-Rogersville
  • Dairy Handlers Activity-James Defreece, Marshfield
  • Employment Skills – Larissa Larrick, South Shelby
  • Environment & Natural Resources—Elsberry
  • Extemp Speaking – Evelyn Ritter, Seneca
  • Farm Business Mgt – North Shelby
  • Floriculture – Owensville
  • Food Science – Palmyra
  • Forestry – Gallatin
  • Horse – Ozark
  • Livestock – Nevada
  • Meats – Slater
  • Milk Quality – Fair Play
  • Nursery/Landscape – Audrain Co. R-VI
  • Parliamentary – Troy
  • Poultry – Pierce City
  • Public Speaking – Kaden Pham, Pierce City
  • Vet Science – Columbia

MO YOUNG FARMS/YOUNG FARM WIVES SPEAKING CONTEST

1st – Crista Perry, Liberal
2nd – Avery Ridgley, Montgomery Co
3rd – Harlee Beck, Chillicothe

MO QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION

1st – Ruby Hinds, West Plains
2nd – Glenna Barnett, Chillicothe

MO PET BREEDERS ASSOCIATION

1st – Carissa Simagna, Aurora
2nd – Gracie Small, Linn Co.
3rd – Lyndsey King, Gallatin

MO FOREST PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION

1st – Madilynn Cook, Forsyth
2nd – Bethany Slovensky, Wellsville
3rd – Brooklyn Fleming, Leeton

MO CATTLE INDUSTRY SPEAKING CONTEST

1st – Mikaela Rojas, Linn Co.
2nd – Natalie Neil, Nevada
3rd – Sara Tuschhoff, Cuba

MO PORK ASSOCIATION SPEAKING CONTEST

1st – Sadie Brunch, Chillicothe
2nd – Sophia Geppert, North Callaway
3rd – Ashtyn O’Malley, Buffalo

MO ASSOC OF SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS

1st – Micah Winslow, Republic
2nd – Kate Strackeljahn, St. James
3rd – Abigail Burns, Gallatin

TEACH AG SPEAKING EVENT

1st – Dylan Hoyt, Community R-6
2nd – Gabrielle Thompson, Forsyth
3rd – Jerrica Hess, Northwest Tech

MO SHEEP PRODUCERS SPEAKING CONTEST

1st – Isabella Collins, Aurora
2nd – Marah Greiman, Monroe City
3rd – Hallie Rider, Belle

See Full Results >> 

FARM BUREAU SPEAKING CONTEST

1st – Matthew Lakey, Ava
2nd – Karsyn Gleeman, Braymer
3rd – Lydea Britt, Salisbury

MO INSTITUTE OF COOPERATIVES SPEAKING CONTEST

1st – Ellie Samek, Bolivar
2nd – Haley Sunfield, Hermann
3rd – Samual Setzer, Appleton City

Release courtesy of the Missouri Department of Agriculture

For more information, contact the department’s Public Information Office at (573) 751-2613 or Christi.Miller@mda.mo.gov.

February 22, 2024

Three Missouri FFA Student Members Receive a Total of $600 in the Missouri Forest Products Association FFA Public Speaking Contest Finalists Presented on January 9 at the MFPA Winter Meeting in Jefferson City

From L-R: Brooklyn Fleming, Carmella Pendergrass, Marlee Jones, Bethany Slovensky, Madilynn Cook, Brian Brookshire, Executive Director of MFPA

Missouri Forest Products Association, in conjunction with the Missouri FFA chapter offers congratulations to all students who entered their second annual FFA Public Speaking Contest and announced that Madilynn Cook from Forsyth High School located in Forsyth, MO was selected as the statewide winner.

The speaking contest was open to all Missouri FFA student members enrolled in vocational agriculture courses during the fall semester of the 2023/24 school year. Of the 12 students competing at the district level, the top six finalists (one from each FFA district in Missouri) each presented their 6-8 minute speech and answered follow-up questions on the topic of “What are the carbon benefits of the forest and wood products industry?” Three finalists were then selected during the MFPA’s winter meeting in Jefferson City at Courtyard Marriott on January 9, 2024. First place and $200 was awarded to Madilynn Cook, second place and $150 went to Bethany Slovensky, and Brooklyn Fleming received $100 for third place.

Missouri is home to more than 26,000 FFA members.

“A large component of Missouri Forest Products Association is education, so partnering with Missouri FFA is a perfect fit for us,” said Brian Brookshire, executive director of MFPA. “It is a great opportunity for MFPA to reach young leaders across the state and allow them to learn about and present a speech on a topic that pertains to not only our industry but a topic that is important to everyone’s future. We were quite impressed with the finalists for this year’s contest. We’d like to officially thank the students who participated and congratulate the winners.”

The 2023 Missouri Sheep Producers State FFA Speaking contest was held at Margaritaville Resort on Sunday December 3rd.  Ed DeOrnellis, chairman of the event said, “The contest is designed to develop individual public speaking skills and to promote interest in and awareness of the many different aspects of the sheep industry.”  Participants earned the right to compete at the state contest by winning their respective district competitions.

District winners are, Central – Katherine Rohrbach – California FFA, Southeast – Cara Fulmer – Perryville FFA and Northwest – Hadley Cline – Jefferson FFA.   Results of the competition were as follows; First Place – Isabella Collins – Aurora FFA, Second Place – Marah Greiman – Monroe City FFA, Third Place – Hallie Rider  – Belle FFA.  Christy Green, MSP Executive Director, presented each of the participants with a plaque and a check from MSP.  Pictured from left to right are Christy Green, Isabella Collins, Marah Greiman, Hallie Rider, Hadley Cline, Cara Fulmer and Katherine Rohrbach.

The Soy Innovation Challenge, brought to you by Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC), aims to engage Missouri FFA members in creating valuable and engaging exhibits and ideas based on the soy value chain. Students will be tasked to plan and design a soy-focused agricultural education mobile classroom via the MSMC-purchased school bus. Students will develop an understanding of the uses of soy that are utilized in everyday products, by curating what this bus looks like, both on the inside and out. Exhibiting the uses of soy is essential to the development of soy markets that benefit farmers.

The Governor and Lieutenant Governor drove tractors to work in honor of FFA Week.

JEFFERSON CITY —

On behalf of nearly 26,000 members of Missouri FFA, Governor Mike Parson proclaimed Feb. 18-25, 2023, to be National FFA Week in Missouri.

“Missouri’s agriculture industry depends on our young people taking the lead,” Governor Mike Parson said. “We’re proud to see such leadership displayed in Missouri FFA members each time we meet with them. For the First Lady and I, living the agricultural way of life is our American Dream, and we appreciate all that our Missouri FFA members do to preserve that legacy and tradition for the next generations.”

For the fifth year in a row, Gov. Parson drove a John Deere tractor to the Capitol in honor of the FFA tradition of students driving their tractor to school during National FFA Week. Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe joined in on the tradition again this year, demonstrating his ties to agriculture and commitment to FFA students. Missouri FFA President Colton Roy, from the Trenton FFA Chapter, received the proclamation on behalf of the 2022-2023 Missouri FFA State Officer team.

“Missouri FFA members have access to incredible opportunities to learn and grow,” Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe said. “As a first-generation farmer, I am proud to celebrate the future of Missouri agriculture with our next generation of leaders during National FFA Week in Missouri. It’s important we continue traditions, such as today’s event, to showcase our support of agricultural youth organizations.”

In 1928, 33 young men met at the Baltimore Hotel in Kansas City, Mo., and began the National Future Farmers of America Organization (FFA). Today, the organization’s official name is the National FFA Organization, which 95 years later is represented locally by 8,995 FFA chapters and 850,823 members nationwide.

“The passion FFA members possess is indescribable,” Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn said. “Their excitement for the future of agriculture is reassuring. I’m confident Missouri FFA members will help the Missouri agriculture industry soar to new heights in the years to come, and I’m proud to stand alongside them as they do so.”

Missouri FFA continues to help the next generation rise up to meet the challenges of feeding a growing population by helping its members to develop their own unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of career pathways through their experiences in agricultural education. Missouri is home to more than 356 chapters and 25,677 members, ranking the eighth highest in the nation for membership.

“Missouri schools work to provide students with access to opportunities, and FFA does just that,” said Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Margie Vandeven. “FFA has a rich history of helping students develop their skills and the attributes needed to be ready for their chosen path to success. We are proud of our students and the FFA Advisors who lead alongside them each day.”