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.