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Mar 25 2021

Greenhand Conferences Come to a Close

New look for the annual first-year-member event receives thumbs up.

Greenhand Motivational Conferences took on a new look this year. The annual conferences for first-year FFA members were offered during December and February as an in-chapter visit or as a video conference depending on the school school district’s health restrictions and protocols. State officers recorded an opening skit to kick off each conference, which centered around the theme of the program derived from the television sitcom The Office. Through this process the state officer team was able to present the 2021 GMC program to 238 (68% of the 351) FFA chapters all across Missouri.

 

Here’s what FFA advisors had to say about this year’s conferences:

 

“I just wanted to let you know that officer did a GREAT job today! She was with 21 freshmen for an hour and a half and kept them engaged the entire time. I really liked the curriculum for this year, it was relevant to the kids, and they really seemed to get into it. Thanks for all of your hard work, and please thank the state officers.” — Brian Gillen, Lockwood FFA Advisor

 

“Thank you for offering this! My students really enjoyed it, and the state officer did a great job!”

—Casteel Edwards – Skyline FFA Advisor

“Ricci amazed me today working with our underclassmen.  Virtual teaching is hard, she did a great job keeping them on task and interacting with them.  Kudos to the state officer team. The GMC program was great.” — Kendra Allen, Mexico FFA Advisor

by Joann Pipkin

 

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2021 MO FFA Convention Theme
Mar 25 2021

New Date, Location for 2021 State FFA Convention

93rd Annual event slated for April 30, May 1 in Sedalia

In the effort to hold an in-person event celebrating accomplishments of FFA members across the state while being responsible with current Covid-19-related health concerns, Missouri FFA plans to hold its 93rd Annual State FFA Convention April 30 and May 1 at the Mathewson Exhibition Center on the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia, Missouri. The recognition-only event will be limited to award winners and two advisor/chaperones per school. Guest speakers, including National FFA Central Region Vice President and Missouri native Paxton Dahmer, will highlight the sessions, which will be live streamed for those unable to attend in person.

 

“Our desire to hold an in-person event for our award winners has been the overarching goal in our decision to modify our normal convention location and protocol,” said Leon Busdieker, Missouri FFA state advisor. “FFA is hands-on. It’s a four-year program, and we think this year’s plan is the best way to recognize our students for their accomplishments while still being mindful of health-related concerns.”

 

Morning and afternoon convention sessions are scheduled for Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1 with a goal of recognizing chapter activity awards, honorary state degree recipients, new FFA chapters, career development and leadership development event (CDE and LDE) winners, proficiency awards, star state degrees and state degree recipients. Other scholarship and essay winners will also be honored at the convention. CDEs and LDEs are currently planned during April at various times and locations in Columbia to accommodate social distancing protocols.

 

Student workshops will be available the week of April 26 on missouriffa.org, highlighting 12 presentations from Dahmer, current state FFA officers, as well as Teach Ag Ambassadors and Post-Secondary Student organization officers, and can be viewed via a password-protected verification system for members.

 

Agricultural education joint staff committee, the 2020-21 Missouri State FFA Officers, Missouri Vocational Agriculture Teacher Executive Committee and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education state staff played a role in guiding the decision to move both the date and location for this year’s state convention.

 

“While we shifted last year’s convention to a virtual format, we believe we can host an in-person event that will recognize student accomplishments in a safe manner,” Busdieker said.

 

For updated convention information follow @MissouriFFA on Facebook and visit missouriffa.org.

 

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Feb 18 2021

District Contests Adjust Schedules

Career and Leadership Development Event schedules adjust statewide due to Covid-19.

Prompted by Covid-19 guidelines in many areas of the state, district FFA career and leadership development event schedules are taking on new formats this spring. Below is a list of the current schedule as of Feb. 15. Check out  Missouri FFA.org for up-to-date information.

 

Central District
CDEs – March 29 & 30
LDEs – April 1

Northwest District
CDEs – March 10, 17, 24 and 27
LDEs – March 22

Southwest District
CDEs & LDEs – March 25, 26, 27

South Central District
CDE/LDE – March 29
CDE – March 30 and April 01

Southeast District
CDE – March 23
CDE/LDE – March 24 and 27

Northeast District
CDE – March 9, 16, 20, 22, 23, 24, 31
LDEs – March 22

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Feb 18 2021

Settling in with CDEs

Preparing for spring career development events begins in the classroom.

Commonly known as contests in the FFA community, Career Development Events (CDEs) require more than luck or good timing. From skill to dedication and much preparation,  oftentimes, the road to success in CDEs starts with a foundation of knowledge built in classroom education.

 

“At the Cass Career Center, we prepare students for Career Development Events by teaching all students a foundational level of knowledge and skills of the CDE in the course where the curriculum is aligned,” says Jason Dieckhoff, one of the agricultural education teachers and FFA advisors at Cass Career Center. “For example, we teach the content knowledge and performance skills of the Forestry CDE in our Conservation course, starting six weeks prior to the start of CDE events. In our Veterinary & Equine Science course, we train students for the Equine CDE.  We feel all students benefit from the training, not just students who will be on the team.”

 

CDEs aim to give students an outlet to apply knowledge from the classroom to the field. Amanda Haeberlin, agricultural education teacher and FFA advisor at Palmyra High School, says agricultural curriculum’s focus on career exploration pairs well with preparation for CDEs. Students’ interest in what they’re learning lends well to them joining a team in the spring.

 

“I often mention why it’s part of the contest and how it applies to industry,” Haeberlin explains. “Plus, if you are teaching the curriculum, for a lot of them, it happens naturally.”

 

These teams are an essential addition to agricultural education, allowing students to apply content directly related to industry careers.

 

“They help students gain a number of skills,” Haeberlin says. “Job skills, speaking, work ethic. They give students a chance to excel outside of athletics. And they help them learn to deal with success and failure.”

 

Dieckhoff adds, “CDEs are also important because they are designed by a collaboration of industry representation and post-secondary colleges, so we keep training our students to the current industry demands and can adapt to new trends in the agriculture industry.”

 

Once they understand the significance of CDEs, it’s important to motivate students and sort out their intentions for the season ahead.

 

“Ag teachers have to rely on the personal relationships they have built with each student to see what will motivate them to do their best,” Dieckhoff explains. “Maybe that can be done through making practices fun or exciting, maybe it’s offering the only positive comments the student will hear in a day, and maybe it is convincing the student that they need this experience later on in their life.”

 

Haeberlin adds that it is important to find out the student’s end goal.  “Do they want to learn something new and have fun or do they want that and to be competitive and win,” she says. “If we all are not on the same page, we won’t enjoy contest season.”

 

Dieckhoff believes measuring the success of a CDE team looks different than one might expect.

 

“After 18 years of teaching, I have found students have success on a CDE when it significantly impacts their future,” he notes. “Having former students who took a job as a meat cutter after competing in the Meats CDE or get a job in a florist shop after doing the Floriculture CDE means more than any plaque on the wall.  Those former students are making a real difference in their communities, and it was inspired by their involvement in CDEs.”

by Brandelyn Twellman

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Feb 18 2021

Legislative Learners

State officers share ag education story with state lawmakers.

Missouri State FFA Officers met with state lawmakers Feb. 9, 2021, for a modified in-person Legislative Day. The group shared the story of agricultural education, agriculture and Missouri FFA on behalf of the 25,900 state FFA members.

Listen in on Missouri FFA State President Justin Eddy’s address to the Missouri House of Representatives. State FFA President Justin Eddy 2021 Legislative Day Address

 

by Joann Pipkin

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Jan 20 2021

GROWMARK Announces 2021 Missouri Essay Contest Winner

Press Release Compliments of GROWMARK

 

Madilynn Lippa of Montrose, Missouri, has been named the Missouri state winner of the 2021 GROWMARK essay contest for FFA members. The theme of this year’s contest was “If you could invent a new technology to improve agriculture, what would it be?” Students were encouraged to think creatively, not necessarily realistically, as they described their ideal invention.

In her contest entry, Lippa said: “The invention that is going to come into play is a food waste robot in every household. This robot takes food waste in and transports it to a local pig farm. Each robot will be set to recognize food from other foreign materials.”

Lippa is a student at Montrose R-XIV School District and a member of the Montrose FFA chapter. Her FFA advisor is Shayla Coale.

As the contest winner, Lippa will receive a $500 award from GROWMARK. The Montrose FFA chapter will also receive a $300 award in honor of her accomplishment.

Four state runners-up will each receive a $125 award. The runners-up and their FFA chapters are, in alphabetical order: Maggie Collins, Jefferson FFA, Ravenwood, Missouri; Emily Goetting, Carrollton ACC FFA, Norborne, Missouri; Ashland Higgins, Troy FFA, Moscow Mills, Missouri; and Abigail Miller, Eldon FFA, Olean, Missouri.

This is the 28th year for the program, sponsored by the GROWMARK System and FS member cooperatives, in conjunction with state FFA leaders, to help young people develop their writing skills, learn about current issues in agriculture, and understand the unique role of cooperatives.

GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative providing agronomy, energy, facility planning, and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services throughout North America. Headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by affiliated member cooperatives. More information is available at www.growmark.com.

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Jan 20 2021

Young Leaders Compete in Beef Speaking Contest

Speaking Contest Finalists: (Random Order)

Hailey Eads, Elsie Kigar, Logan Blankenship, Owen Neely, Trey Riley, and Josie Meier

Speaking Contest Winners:

1st place – Trey Riley from St. James, South Central
2nd place – Owen Neely from Lockwood, Southwest
3rd place – Elsie Kigar from Memphis, Northeast

Press Release Compliments of Missouri Cattlemen’s Association

 

OSAGE BEACH, MISSOURI (Jan. 12, 2021) – Trey Riley, representing the St. James FFA chapter, was named the winner of the 2021 Missouri Cattle Industry FFA Public Speaking Contest. The final round of the competition was held Saturday, January 9, during the 53rd Annual Missouri Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show in Osage Beach. The competitors were recognized at the convention banquet honoring youth.

 

“This contest is truly a highlight of our convention,” said Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Mike Deering. “We are committed to empowering the next generation and this contest puts the talents of our future leaders on full display. These young leaders leave us with absolute confidence that the future of Missouri agriculture is in good hands.”

 

Six finalists competed in the state competition. These FFA members qualified by advancing through area and district competition. Owen Neely, Lockwood FFA, placed second in the contest and Elsie Kigar, Memphis FFA, placed third. The three other finalists included Logan Blankenship, Eldon FFA, Hailey Eads, Jamesport FFA, and Josey Meier, Jackson FFA.

 

Each finalist received $100 and the top three places were awarded additional money. Third place received $200, second place received $300 and first placed received $500. The competition was hosted by MCA and the Missouri CattleWomen’s Association. The contest was sponsored by the Missouri Beef Industry Council; Missouri CattleWomen’s Association; Kent and Linda Blades; Apex Financial; Duckworth Farms; Missouri Heritage Mutual Insurance; and Jimmie and Linda Long Livestock.

 

The annual convention concluded Sunday, January 10.

Click here to view the winning speech.
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Jan 20 2021

When a Snag Sparks Spirit

Princeton FFA member Brylee Williams turns challenges into big rewards.

Brylee Williams, Princeton, Mo FFA Member

Princeton FFA member Brylee Williams knows first-hand how a challenge can help develop passion in something.

 

The 2020 National Swine Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award finalist lost every litter born in January 2018 when Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) hit her farrowing house.

 

“We ran tests on every single pig we lost and worked with our vet for months to ensure that we did not have the problem again,” Williams explains.

 

Today, the young entrepreneur implements a strict vaccination protocol to help ensure pigs stay healthy.

 

Williams grew up exhibiting livestock and has always had an interest in swine production.

 

“When I was very young my dad raised hogs at the Princeton FFA Research Farm,” she says. “Some of my fondest memories were going down to the farrowing house and playing with the baby pigs. It only made sense that swine production would be my SAE (supervised agricultural experience).”

 

As part of her swine production entrepreneurship SAE, Williams has held two successful online pig sales and has placed three boars in boar studs across the country. She says that, coupled with her love of feeding and showing pigs, has only further developed her passion for the industry.

 

“Over the past few years, I have learned countless lessons,” Williams says. “From health and disease to feeding and breeding, I have tried my best to be a sponge.”

 

With lofty goals in mind, Williams hopes to continue learning from mentors in the industry. She says building relationships with others not only helps her troubleshoot potential problems in her operation, but also is key to building a network of customers.

 

“Hard work pays off,” she says. “Moving forward in life is dependent on learning from where you have been. Over the years I have been able to pursue my passion for the livestock industry, but my journey is far from over.”

 

by Joann Pipkin

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Cory Word, 2020 national finalist in the Environmental Science and Natural Resources Management Placement Proficiency Award area
Jan 20 2021

Successful Stewardship

Land improvements, cover crops help Cory Word become national finalist in the Environmental Science and Natural Resources Management Placement Proficiency Award

Cory Word, 2020 national finalist in the Environmental Science and Natural Resources Management Placement Proficiency Award area

Land stewardship. It’s top of mind for Cory Word, and it helped him become a 2020 national finalist in the Environmental Science and Natural Resources Management Placement Proficiency Award area. Working for his grandfather at Hellwege Farms LLC, Word helps maintain and improve land quality for the row crop, hay and beef cattle operation.

 

In his role there, Word repairs and creates new waterways and integrates cover crops to improve soil health and prevent erosion. He also assists with manure management for the farm’s feedlot.

 

“My SAE (supervised agricultural experience) has taught me environmental stewardship as I take care of the land the most effective way, and my engagement in natural resource management has helped me achieve my goals in my diversified agricultural production experience.”

 

With little forehand knowledge of natural resource management, Word began by maintaining the farm’s current waterways. He then worked to repair and reseed those areas with wheat and fescue to prevent soil erosion and future washouts.

 

“One challenge I faced with my SAE was bad field conditions for planting due to increased rainfall in the fall and a lengthy harvest due to weather conditions,” Word explains. “The lengthy harvest left crops in the field during the time the cover crops should have been planted. When field conditions finally improved, I did not have much time to plant the cover crops.”

 

Word says his knowledge of environmental science and natural resources increased dramatically throughout his SAE. While he began his project with an academic knowledge of cover crops, waterways and erosion, he says his placement SAE helped him implement that environmental and natural resources knowledge.

 

“My SAE has taught me to be responsible with my time and passionate about agriculture and environmental practices for the future,” Word says. “Good stewardship of the land and the future viability of the land is something I have become very passionate about.”

 

by Joann Pipkin

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Carley Esser, MO FFA Alumnus
Jan 20 2021

Launchpad for Learning

FFA helped sharpen Carley Esser’s career development, relationship skills all while cultivating her passion for agriculture.

Carley Esser, MO FFA Alumnus

Carley Esser didn’t grow up on a farm. But that didn’t stop her from learning the impact of the agriculture industry and from making the most of her FFA experience.

 

Today, the former Boonville FFA member is a legislative assistant in Washington, D.C., for Missouri Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-04). In her role, Esser researches and develops policy, engages with constituents and works with agencies to help influence policy and regulations that impact Missouri and the fourth congressional district. She also works on trade, energy, environment, education, transportation and foreign aid policy.

 

“Having not grown up directly on a farm, FFA helped me gain a basic knowledge of the agriculture industry, take advantage of hands-on experiences I would have otherwise not been exposed to, and develop a love for public speaking — all while building a national network of amazing individuals,” Esser explains.

 

As an FFA member, Esser held officer positions, participated in as many career and leadership development events as possible and admits rushing through art class projects so she could speed extra time in the agriculture classroom. Her Supervised Agricultural Experience project focused on raising chickens and helping her dad in his construction business while also working with the local parks and recreation department.

 

Looking back on her time in the blue jacket, Esser says FFA helped her build a resume´ and sharpen her interview skills by competing in a variety of contents and experiences. The same preparation helped her apply for agriculture-related internships and experiences that all assisted her in preparing for her current career.

 

“My first trip to our nation’s capital was because of FFA’s Washington Leadership Conference, and now every year I get to see the flood of blue jackets across our city,” Esser says. “Even after adding a few more trips to Arlington Cemetery, I am just as excited when I get to explore the monuments today as I was then.”

 

Esser is quick to note you get out of an activity what you put into it. In fact, she remembers feeling devastated when she passed up for a chapter officer position. The experience taught her both humility and time management.

 

She explains, “It was brought to my attention that I was putting more time into sports, and I could not expect to reap the benefits of being an officer if I wasn’t willing to also put in the effort of supporting a team. I needed to better manage my time if I wanted to succeed on the ball field and the FFA field.”

 

To Esser, FFA provides a launchpad for students to develop into well-rounded, contributing members of society.

 

“You don’t have to be going into production agriculture to benefit from the FFA,” she says. “While that is an important and valuable route, the industry is so diverse and needs advocates both inside and outside the industry.”

 

Esser encourages FFA members to be active in the organization as well as other opportunities. She says exposing yourself to all you can while focusing on building and keeping genuine relationships is key.

 

 “While experience plays a large role in getting jobs, I am where I am today because of exposure to opportunities and the people who helped get me here,” Esser says. “Every career door opened because of genuine relationships with people who believed in my ability and trusted that I would not let them down. FFA helped expose me to various career paths, people and opportunities to put learning into practice.”

by Joann Pipkin

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