MO FFA Today - February 2024

FEBRUARY 2024

Contents

1 INTEGRATED AG ED 2 PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE 4 GROWING THROUGH MOWING 5 BLUE JACKET BRIEF 7 FINDING HER COMFORT ZONE 13 GIVE FFA DAY 15 HANDS-ON: LEARNING BY DOING

Missouri FFA Today Integrated

Ag Ed

Monroe City puts agricultural education’s three circle model to work to provide a well-rounded experience

GRANTS

ON THE

calendar

Feb 17-24 National FFA Week March 1 FCS Financial Scholarship Application Deadline March 15 Charles E Kruse Scholarship Application Deadline March 25 Northeast District FFA LDEs & Ag Sales CDE, Monroe City

three-circle model of agricultural education is made up of classroom instruction, Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs) and FFA involvement — an integrated concept students in Monroe City have come to know and love. Agricultural education teachers and FFA advisors Keriann Brandt and Chad Cook use the model as the foundation to help provide students with a well-rounded ag ed experience.

March 26 Southeast District Horse CDE, Advance

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

March 27 Northwest District FFA LDEs, Cameron March 28 Southeast District Ag CDEs, Cape CTC, Cape Girardeau March 31 Mo Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Vocational Scholarship Application Deadline

missouriffa.org @Missouri FFA @missouriffa

“Agricultural education is set up to transcend each aspect of the three-circle model into the others,” they share. “It is helpful that they all overlap. Students enjoy being able to take what they learn in the classroom and apply that to their SAE and FFA involvement. We strive to incorporate all aspects of this model into our program.”

The three components work together to allow students with diverse backgrounds to find their place in agricultural education.

Third graders in Monroe City learned about soil composition and conservation practices as part of Ag Ed on the Move, a Missouri Farmer’s Care program aimed to provide interactive educational experiences in the classroom and on the farm.

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2023-24 STATE FFA OFFICERS Officer • Chapter Samuel Tummons • Columbia President Owen Neely • Lockwood 1st Vice President Karson Calvin • Troy Secretary

President’s

Perspective

Vice Presidents

is a

Lynn Dyer • Higginsville Noah Graham • Clearwater Isabella Hamner • Camdenton Wyatt Hendley • Bloomfield Jaden Kultgen • Mount Vernon Kiley Mattson • Stanberry Colin McIntyre • Belton Kelsey Miller • Warrenton Caleb Simpson • Bolivar Maggie Stark • Adrian Gabriel Todd • Norwood Claire Walker • Chillicothe Lilly Weber • Lamar State Officer Mentor Jacob King Department of Elem. & Sec. Education P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102 (573) 751-3544.

District Supervisors: Teresa Briscoe, Lee Crabtree, Marie Davis, Keith Dietzschold, Lisa Evans, David Higgins & Jim Spencer.

Missouri FFA Association Joann Pipkin, Director of Communications joann.pipkin@missouriffa.org (417) 827-2756

fundamental aspect of affecting change, especially in the realm of agriculture. For your Missouri state FFA officers, advocating at the capital holds significant importance in shaping policies that directly impact our futures as farmers, leaders, and stewards of the land.

FFA has evolved into a multifaceted organization that prepares students for careers in agriculture and related industries.

Beyond teaching work-based skills, FFA instills values of leadership, responsibility, and effective communication. Advocating at the capital is an extension of these values, providing members with a platform to voice their concerns and contribute to the development of agricultural policies.

This month, FFA members have the chance to advocate for agriculture directly to lawmakers at CTE Day. This day is specifically designed for students to be the voice for Career and Technical education in our state. Many students do not realize the importance of being the voice to our representatives, but the truth is that there is

Sam Tummons

State FFA Vice President Isabella Hamner visted Sweet Springs earlier this month. She engaged FFA members in a game of charades and helped ignite their passion and enthusiasm for agriculture during the networking session.

Brandelyn Twellman, Social Media Manager brandelyn.twellman@missouriffa.org The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, mental or physical disability, or any other basis prohibited by statute in its programs and activities. Inquiries related to department programs and to the location of services, activities, and facilities that are accessible by persons with disabilities may be directed to the Jefferson State Office Building, Director of Civil Rights Compliance and MOA Coordinator (Title VI/Title VII/Title IX/504/ADA/ADAAA/Age Act/ GINA/USDA Title VI), 5th Floor, 205 Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 651020480; telephone number 573-526-4757 or TTY 800-735-2966; email civilrights@dese.mo.gov.

no better expert on the school system than those in it. What students will begin to realize is that this impact can go far beyond our schools.

When asked, individuals that work in policy for Missouri Farm Bureau had much to say on agricultural issues. In their opinion, in the near future we should be worried about land owner rights and health care in addition to the Farm Bill. In the future, they advised us to keep in mind water rights as well as government policy and interferance with agricultural practices. So for as far as the eye can see, there will be a need for FFA members to use the advocacy skills they have worked hard to develop.

Advocating at the capital is of paramount importance for FFA members as it provides a platform to influence agricultural policies, develop essential skills in advocacy and communication, and foster a sense of civic engagement. By actively engaging with lawmakers and advocating for agricultural issues, FFA members play a vital role in ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for agriculture and rural America.

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GROWING

through Mowing a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

Writer Mark Twain might have coined the phrase, but it’s one Boonville FFA member Nash McKenzie lives thanks to the supervised agricultural experience (SAE) he started while in high school.

The now State Fair Community College student has come to enjoy the lawnmowing and landscaping business he launched in 2019. In fact, he enjoys the trade so much that he’s made it his full-time job and has plans to continue the business in the future.

“When I began my SAE, I had just a few yards to mow close to my parent’s home,” McKenzie explains. “By 2022, I was responsible for 45 yards and nine landscaping jobs throughout the Boonville area.”

Growing his SAE helped McKenzie earn a national proficiency award in Diversified Horticulture at the 2023 National FFA Convention. His business, NJs Lawncare, provides mowing, landscaping and mulching services and employs two workers in addition to McKenzie.

“When my business first began, I established an exchange of labor agreement with my parents to us their Bush Hog Zero-Turn mower, store my

equipment in their basement and use their trailers,” McKenzie says.

McKenzie broadened his knowledge of financial management, taxes, insurance,

billing and machinery maintenance with the help of his agricultural education instructors and his father, a local business owner.

Boonville FFA member Nash McKenzie was named National Proficiency Winner in Diversified Horticulture at the 2023 National FFA Convention.

“I use Quickbooks to manage my employees, income, expenses, tax liability, loan repayment and additional business operations,” McKenzie says.

Communicating with customers and employees has been key in the success of McKenzie’s business. He says clear communication with clients helps ensure customer satisfaction and leads to repeat business.

He also constantly networks with employees to ensure they are representing NJs Lawncare through customer satisfaction and quality of work.

“Hiring employees, tracking costs, determining service fees and seeking advice from my dad about insurance, taxes and billing continues to better prepare me for the future and long-term success of my business,” McKenzie notes.

While mowing and landscaping can be a seasonal business, adding snow removal and small tree work has helped McKenzie diversify his resume’.

McKenzie has set some promising goals for himself as he continues to grow his operation.

He hopes that word of mouth referrals and maintaining existing clients will help him exceed his income expectations. He would also like to venture into bidding commercial mowing jobs and aspires of becoming the largest mowing and landscaping company in Boonville.

—By Joann Pipkin

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Blue Jacket

Brief

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I also work on my family’s beef cattle and row crop farm and seasonally for the Higginsville Parks and Recreation Department.

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Your FFA journey can be whatever you make it. Finding your place in an organization like FFA that has so much to offer can seem daunting, but you will never regret trying new experiences and taking advantage of every opportunity you can. If you put in the work, there is no limit to the level of success you can achieve in FFA and beyond.

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MIRIAM MARTIN HOME FFA CHAPTER: MEADVILLE FFA WHAT MIRIAM DOES: As the director of animal health and welfare for the North American Meat Institute, Miriam advocates for the industry in Washington D.C. and on ranches, feedyards and meat plants across the country.

WHAT MIRIAM LEARNED IN FFA: Miriam says FFA taught her to prevail through disappointments and helped her understand what she was naturally good at. The speaking skills she learned in FFA benefit her today in her career as an industry advocate.

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FINDING HER

Comfor t Zone

Martin considers herself lucky.

Growing up, Martin was the daughter of an agricultural education teacher. Her father, Phillip Martin, put farming on hold for a few years so he could be his children’s instructor and FFA advisor, opening a plethora of experiences and opportunities for Martin and her siblings, Joel and Audrey.

In fact, the family’s commercial cowcalf operation oftentimes resembled Old MacDonald’s farm, she says.

“Dad always said that we could put together a judging class of cattle, pigs, or sheep at any time,” Martin says. “I truly had a diversified livestock experience growing up.”

In high school, Martin was a member of the Meadville FFA Chapter. Her supervised agricultural experience focused on beef and swine production in addition to agribusiness. The family often processed their own livestock, which Martin says taught her to appreciate meat science.

According to Martin, her FFA experience taught her to be comfortable outside of her comfort zone.

“I was shy growing up and public speaking and giving reasons really helped prepare me for graduate school and a career,” Martin says. “Giving reasons (in a judging contest) is about explaining and defending your decisions, which is the same skill set it takes to defend your research in graduate school.”

Martin says through her experiences in extemporaneous speaking she learned to be knowledgeable about a wide array of subject

Find out how FFA helped Miriam Martin discover a career path in animal and meat science.

By Joann Pipkin

matters. She continues to use her speaking skills nearly every day in her current role as director of animal health and welfare at the North American Meat Institute.

In her role, Martin is charged with “wearing a lot of different hats,” she says to improve animal health and welfare. Some days she advocates for the industry in Washington, D.C., while others she can be found at ranches, feedyards and meat plants around the country.

“I was never sure which aspect of animal science I wanted to pursue until I found animal welfare, which allows me to draw from a lot of my experiences growing up,” Martin explains. “Whether it be animal health, behavior, facility design or precision agriculture, each one plays a role in animal welfare.”

Martin completed her undergraduate course work in animal science at the 7

University of Missouri-Columbia before earning a master’s degree in the same field from Colorado State University. She investigated ways to make painful husbandry procedures like castration and dehorning less painful through her research and received a doctorate degree in physiology from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Through raising animals in FFA, Martin says she learned to not become easily discouraged. As the FFA Creed outlines, agricultural life is filled with both joys and discomforts.

“Those of us that can learn to prevail through some discouragements are those continued on next page

who will be successful no matter our life pursuit,” Martin says. “You don’t have to go into an agricultural career field to benefit agriculture. Go be a doctor and help your patients understand meat is good for you. Go be an attorney and help defend the right to make choices like owning land and caring for animals.”

Martin says FFA helped ground her in her values and decide what priorities she needs to navigate her career path. In addition to extemporaneous public speaking, she participated in livestock and poultry judging and agricultural issues while in FFA. She was also a state FFA vice president.

“FFA helped me understand what I was naturally good at and what took some work for me to master,” Martin says. “FFA began the process of developing me into a wellrounded job candidate, and I learned that

“You not winning a contest is not what is going to matter in five or 10 years.

What matters is the person you become thanks to FFA.” –Miriam Martin Director, Animal Health & Welfare North American Meat Institute Former Meadville FFA member

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it is okay to continually work on yourself to become the influence that you want to be.”

One key detail Martin learned through her FFA experiences is that a little disappointment is okay and pushes you to work harder.

“Perfection is not always the goal,” she adds. “It’s what you learned in the process.

The value in FFA is what you learn from the early mornings going to contests and late evenings practicing. It’s in doing hard things regardless of the outcome because of who you become along the way.”

Martin encourages FFA members to try something new by getting involved in the organization, even if you feel like you don’t fit the status quo. She continues today to work with many former FFA members and realizes the network she formed through her

Did you know?

Former FFA member MIRIAM MARTIN (left and below) learned how to stay grounded in her values and decide the priorities needed to navigate her career path through involvement in the organization. Martin says, “Perfection is not always the goal. It’s what you learn in the process.”

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

involvement will last well beyond her high school and college years.

“Give a speech for the first time, or try out a new contest,” Martin says. “Tell your parents you want to try a new SAE project. That’s what FFA is all about. You not winning a contest is not what is going to matter in five or 10 years.

What matters is the person you become thanks to FFA.” As an advocate for the meat industry, Martin hopes FFA members will explore ways they can get involved in sharing agriculture’s message whether through social media, their career or even their hobbies.

“You might not see how much FFA is doing for you now, but I promise the dividends will continue to pay for years to come,” Martin says. “Give FFA a chance and see what it can do.”

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Once the foundation is laid, Brandt and Cook encourage studnts to explore SAEs that allow for further application of what they are learning in the classroom.

“We strive to make multiple visits with students and their SAEs throughout the year,” they share. “Keeping SAEs current and up to date has encouraged students to keep progressing, finding unique SAE projects that reflect their own interests. We are currently developing a school farm designated to help students with resources for strong SAE programs, as well.”

Lane Willard, junior at Monroe City High School, has developed his SAE to best fit his interests over the course of three years.

“My SAE is working for my dad on our family farm where we raise cattle and row crop soybeans, corn and wheat,” he says. “I raise and show cattle at our county and state fair. I raise some of my show calves and occasionally purchase from other producers.

“I also do lawn care for my neighbor. I use my lawn mower and their weed eater and mow the neighbor’s grass for a profit. Lastly, I worked on a fiber drilling crew last summer. I wanted to learn more trade skills and make more money to help fund my show cattle operation.”

The leadership side of classroom education is strengthened by involvement in FFA. Monroe City FFA members travel to speak with both sending schools in their town to share their ag ed program and FFA chapter. This personalized approach gets more students excited about joining the program in high school. Members play an integral role in planning chapter events, as well as participating in statewide activities, speaking contests and Career Development Events.

Willard has reaped the benefits of this diverse involvement.

“I am the first vice president of our chapter, and I am very involved and participate in and plan many of the activities that the chapter does,” he says. “I am passionate about agriculture and being a part of FFA. I did Ag Ed On the Move, which is when another student and I go to a third grade class and teach them about basic agriculture. I have also participated in contest teams every year since I was a freshman.”

This adherence to the three-circle model that allows students to apply classroom instruction to their SAE and FFA experiences is well supported by the surrounding community.

“Something unique about our FFA chapter is the amount of support we receive from the school administration and our community,” Grieman says. “Our principal and superintendent don’t come from an agricultural background, but have been super helpful as we try to start up our own school farm. Our school board members, mostly FFA alumni, work to support our ag education program and FFA chapter.

Finally, our community supports us through help with fundraising and involvement.”

Brandt and Cook agree.

“We have strong community support, which is a big factor into the success of our FFA chapter. We appreciate the relationship we have with stakeholders in our community. This is reflected within our members and provides for a functioning relationship.”

“The Monroe City ag ed program is unique because although we are a very rural community, we have a large percentage of students who do not come from an agriculture background,” Brandt and Cook say. “These students continue to take our classes and be involved in all aspects of our program. We are the largest organization in our school by nearly double the size.

“FFA members continue to enjoy taking classes and being involved in the FFA program, partially due to our integrated approach to education. With all of the parts of the three-circle model present, we build upon what students learn in the classroom and incorporate that into FFA involvement and SAE programs.”

Hands-on classroom instruction encourages students to get involved in a way that interests them.

“My favorite part of my ag education program is the wide variety of classes, some of which are even dual credit opportunities,” shares Marah Grieman, sophomore at Monroe City High School. “I get to learn about different aspects of agriculture with classes that will help to prepare me for college.

“My ag education classroom experience has been nothing short of amazing. Since I am a sophomore, I have had the opportunity to have both advisors for teachers. They shine a positive light in the classroom and work to make everyone feel included.”

Monroe City FFA members helped clear bush honeysuckle, an invasive species, as part of FFA’s National Day of Service.

Chapter members incorporate classroom learning into their FFA involvement and SAE programs.

—By Brandelyn Twellman

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GIVE FFA

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Thursday, Feb. 22, during National FFA Week, the Missouri FFA Foundation will join the National FFA Organization Foundation, and other state FFA foundations across the country, for a 24 hour fundraising campaign known as Give FFA Day. Give FFA Day is a perfect day for FFA Alumni, parents, and supporters to make personal donations of any dollar amount to their state FFA programs. The collaborative impact of those donations results in vital resources to support FFA members and agriculture education teachers throughout the year. This year, we invite you to join the movement on Give FFA Day and make a donation of any amount at https://donorbox.org/mogiveffa

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417-836-5638 Agriculture@ missouristate.edu

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MFA supports you.

The MFA Foundation has awarded more than 14,000 scholarships to students from rural communities where MFA Incorporated and MFA Oil Company and their affiliates conduct business. The foundation also contributes to the Missouri 4-H Foundation, Missouri FFA Association, Missouri Young Farmers Association and other programs consistent with its mission to provide educational opportunity for youth.

Eligible high school seniors can apply for the scholarship online from December 1, 2021 through February 15, 2022.

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Hands-On: Learning by Doing Grants

Missouri FFA Foundation supports students in becoming tomorrow’s leaders.

National FFA was soliciting input from stakeholders to update their strategic plan, one prevalent theme expressed was the need for students to have more exposure to emerging and technological areas of agriculture. Providing those opportunities for students can quickly exceed the budgets of agriculture education programs, especially those in smaller schools. That was the case for Walnut Grove High School, where agricultural education instructor Bruce Blakemore wanted to introduce hydroponics to his students and the local community in Greene County. Hydroponics is of special interest to him because of its ability to produce food without soil and in limited space.

According to Blakemore, “Since farmland is a finite resource…as fuel becomes more expensive and pollution more prevalent, we will be expected to grow food in lower input situations.”

While Walnut Grove’s agriculture program did have a plant science program, including a greenhouse where students received experience growing and caring for plants, the proceeds for those plants when sold to the community were used to support the overall costs of classes.

Without enough available funds to expand the program to teach hydroponics, Blakemore applied for and received a Missouri FFA Foundation Learning by Doing grant.

Since its funding, the hydroponics project has brought students from multiple classes together to make it a reality.

Plant science students assembled the hydroponics unit, while members of the agriculture construction class designed and built a portable rack on wheels allowing the unit to be transported to any location on campus. Students also had to

research and solve an issue with how the water flowed through the unit as the first round of plants dried out. However, the next round of plants is growing well. During each harvest, the produce will be given to the school lunch program with a goal of increasing the consumption of fresh produce by students.

The portability of the unit allows it to move from the high school to the elementary where partnership activities with the younger students will also let them have hands-on learning opportunities in plant science.

Walnut Grove’s agricultural education program used Learning by Doing grant funds from the Missouri FFA Foundation to construct a portable rack to house a hydroponics growing unit.

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Additionally, the unit can be moved to the lobby of the gym during basketball games. Then demonstrations of hydroponic growing can be presented to the general community.

Blakemore says it’s important to support the Missouri FFA Foundation and its programs like the Learning by Doing grants.

“This grant was a catalyst to help me implement a new subject into my agriculture program,” he says. “With the help of the grant, I was able to approach my local school superintendent and ask for the additional funds needed to complete the project. Without the grant, I would not have this equipment.”

February is a great time to assist agriculture education by making a tax-deductible donation to the Missouri FFA Foundation. On Feb. 22, we celebrate Give FFA Day, a nationwide giving day where individuals donate any dollar amount to their state FFA programs resulting in a collective impact state-wide. You can support Give FFA Day any time during February by making a donation at: https://donorbox. org/mogiveffa. You can also mail a check to: Missouri FFA Foundation, P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102. (If you mail a check, please include Give FFA Day on the memo.)

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