Missouri
FFA TODAY Contents 1 BEYOND COWS AND PLOWS 3 president’s perspective 5 blue jacket brief 6 Building a network 7 labor of learning 9 servant leader 10 fall speaking contests
Upcoming
events
Oct. 7: SEMO FFA Field Day, Cape Girardeau Oct. 14-25: American Royal Livestock Show, Kansas City Oct. 24: MSU Celebration with Alumni & Friends, Springfield Oct. 27-29: National FFA Convention, Virual Event Nov. 14: Celebrate Agriculture @ NWMSU, Maryville
BEYOND COWS AND PLOWS t’s the most wonderful time of the year —FFA jacket season! Though zipping up the blue corduroy is often a student’s first experience as an FFA member, it takes strategy at the chapter level to get them hooked on ag education and FFA. Sullivan FFA Advisor Travis Kramme says timing is the key to retention. “This is my 18th year teaching agriculture education, and one thing has been true year after year,” he explains. “The students in my Ag Science I classes who get involved in FFA activities are the same students who are in our program until graduation and become four-year active members in FFA. The Ag Science I students who don’t make it to any
FFA activities during that first semester usually don’t come back as sophomores and find other programs and electives to be involved with.” An important first step in capturing students’ interest is to debunk the myth that ag education is all about “cows and plows,” says Nathan Isakson, Ash Grove FFA Advisor. Karson Calvin, a sophomore at Troy Buchanan High School and member of the Troy FFA Chapter, agrees that chapters should promote FFA as a multi-faceted organization. “It’s not just production agriculture, and
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First year FFA members at Sullivan take part in the Greenhand Motivational Conference. Chapter Advisor Travis Kramme focuses on timing to build member retention.
missouriffa.org
@Missouri FFA @missouriffa #MOFFAisHOME
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2020-21 State ffa officers Officer • Chapter Justin Eddy • Columbia President Mackenzie Porter • Archie 1st Vice President Jenna Perry • Liberal Secretary Vice Presidents Rachel Holt • Chillicothe Anna Milazzo • Grundy Co. Erin Heinecke • Paris Lauryn Robnett • Audrain Co. R-VI Colin Wilburn • Van Far Kiersten Helm • Lexington Kaylee Lower • Weaubleau Cade Shepherd • Mt. Vernon Felicity Cantrell • Seymour Lauren Gilbert • Chadwick Dakota Pemberton • Richland Madison Moll • Perryville Ricanna Spargo • Naylor State Officer Mentor Kensie Darst • Aurora Department of Elem. & Sec. Education P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102 Phone: (573) 751-3544. District Supervisors: Leon Busdieker, Marie Davis, Keith Dietzschold, Lisa Evans, David Higgins & Jim Spencer.
President’s
Perspective
an you believe it is already
October? It feels like it was just days ago that school started, and now we are running full speed ahead with FFA! This fall, we have the opportunity to Show-Me more by taking advantage of a lot of different happenings across the state! For starters, fall speaking contests might look a bit different in their virtual format, but rest assured that members will still have the opportunity to advocate for agriculture through this medium! Also, do not forget that the Show-Me Summit is still live on missouriffa.org. Members can apply for the State Leadership Award until Dec. 11. National FFA Convention kicks off Oct. 27-29 in its brand-new virtual format. While we aren’t able to make a trip out to Indianapolis, we do still have the chance to enjoy the 93rd Convention from wherever we call home. At the start of the school year, I visited Salisbury FFA for their Greenhand and New Parent Welcome Night. At the event, I spoke with some of awesome FFA members. During our time together, we talked about teamwork
and opportunities in agriculture and FFA. I know there are amazing Greenhand members across Missouri, and I cannot wait to meet more of them. As Missouri FFA members, I know we can make an impact this fall. Whether in a speech contest, in a corn field, a feedlot, or even our own homes, I know each of us can Show-Me more. Do not let anything stop your dreams and let this be the home stretch when it comes to accomplishing your goals. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Never leave that ‘til tomorrow which you can do today.” FFA members, today is the day to achieve your dreams. Nothing is out of reach. Seize the day, and show us what you can accomplish!
—By Justin Eddy, State President
Missouri FFA President Justin Eddy (back center) helped Salisbury FFA kick off the school year by attending their Greenhand and New Parent Welcome Night.
Missouri FFA Association Joann Pipkin, Director of Communications Email: joann.pipkin@missouriffa.org Phone: (417) 827-2756 Brandelyn Martin Twellman, Social Media Manager Email: brandelyn.twellman@missouriffa.org The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, or disability 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 IX/504/ADA/ADAAA/ Age Act/GINA/USDA Title VI), 5th Floor, 205 Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480; telephone number 573-526-4757 or TTY 800-735-2966; email civilrights@dese.mo.gov.
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Changing the World Through Excellence in Agriculture
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there’s a diverse range of activities that can fit everyone,” Calvin says. Recognizing the importance of relationships and tradition also helps capture students’ interest
Friendsgiving. It was a fun time as we were playing games, enjoying some good food and becoming closer as a chapter.” Kramme, Isakson and Jenkins all say they call upon older students and FFA members to help build a sense of community through using student teacher aids, officer mentors or a buddy system. Calvin adds that honing in on tradition and the advice of other students helps inspire members to get involved. “My dad, brother and sister were really involved in FFA, and if there’s one thing they’ve taught me, it’s that you get out of FFA what you put into it,” he says. “I know people who were involved in FFA and received much in return. I hope to do the same.”
Advisor. “This is a big event that our officers spend a great deal of time planning. We invite all of our first-year members and their parents to this meeting. It is structured so we have social time on the front and back end of the meeting.” Jenkins says this helps make new members feel included as an integral part of the program. Calvin agrees that building relationships was one piece he remembered most from his first year in FFA. “My favorite chapter activities last year were the LDEs and our Friendsgiving,” he says. “I was on our Conduct of Chapter Meetings team, and my favorite part about it was growing closer with my teammates. While training in the spring, we had some funny moments that stick out as I look back at last year. My other favorite activity was our
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and sense of belonging. “In a normal year, we have a back-to-school meeting and ag department open house,” says Cord Jenkins, Rolla FFA
Ash Grove FFA Advisor Nathan Isakson says the first step to member retention in his chapter is helping students understand ag education is more than cows and plows.
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—By Brandelyn Twellman
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From the shirt on our backs to the food on our plates to the fuel in our tanks, we #ThankAFarmer every day here in Missouri!
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Blue Jacket
Brief
Anna Milazzo Grundy Co. ffa
Come join a Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter at the college or university of your choice.
University of Missouri— Columbia | Ag Education
MY ADVICE: Weather the storm. Some things in our FFA career, and in life, don’t go as planned. I know how devastating it can be when you work really hard, but don’t place on a speech or your contest team is just short of qualifying for state. These are the times that you weather the storm, and then you get back up and work even harder to overcome the next one. Use setbacks as fuel to your fire and take time to learn from the situation you are in.
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Building a Network
A national finalist in the Service Learning Proficiency Award area and member of the Mexico FFA chapter, Grant Norfleet works to educate his community about agriculture.
t’s called service learning, and it’s all about educating others on the ins and outs of agriculture. Mexico FFA member Grant Norfleet cornered the market on service learning, qualifying as a national finalist in the ServiceLearning Proficiency Award area. The winner will be announced as part of the virtual National FFA Convention, Oct. 27-29. “When I first started my Service-Learning SAE, my sole goal was to fully develop, lead and complete a day camp for 4- to 8-year-olds,” Norfleet explains. At the end of 2019, Norfleet
says he had achieved that goal twice and had established a plan for his third year with the project. In addition to the day camp, he worked as an educator in the Ag Education on the Move program sponsored by Missouri Farmers Care. “My goal was to improve agriculture awareness and literacy in our community while serving children,” he explains. Working with the Williams Family Support Center, Norfleet spent one day a week for 10 weeks implementing a plan to serve and educate preschoolers at the center about agriculture.
He says he discovered that agriculture literacy was lacking in his community. His SAE not only helped improve agricultural literacy in his community, but also helped youth become excited about the industry. “Working with my ServiceLearning SAE, serving my community about the importance of the agriculture industry has been extremely rewarding,” he says. “This is important to me because it has shown personal growth, SAE success and an increase in support for agriculture literacy in my community.” —By Joann Pipkin
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.
Return completed applications to your school counselor's office by February 15, 2021.
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LABOR of LEARNING or Ashland FFA member Amanda Belew, every decision made in her Supervised Agricultural Experience program came down to one word: knowledge. Belew was recently named a finalist in the Wildlife Production and Management Proficiency award area. “Learning to accept and ask for assistance enabled me to increase efficiency and profitability,” Belew explains. “Being open to new information made me an eager student in and out of the classroom, a skill benefiting my further education and employability.”
Belew’s wildlife production and management SAE consists of purchasing Bobwhite quail chicks to grow and sell for the training of bird dogs used in field trials and management release for preplanned hunting activities. “Quail are labor intensive, requiring controlled temperatures and cleanliness as they are highly susceptible to disease,” Belew says. Thanks to advice from her support system, Belew says she was able to improve the management practices of her project, which had a positive effect on the overall health of the birds. Interacting with customers through her SAE helped Belew strengthen her communication
Amanda Belew, Ashland FFA member, is a national finalist in the Wildlife Production and Management Proficiency award area.
skills, and she says she is now comfortable speaking with people she does not know, which helps to build relationships. “I will carry this trait as I continue to develop in personal situations, college or work environments,” Belew says. “Being able to communicate clearly will assist my growth as a student, discussing with professors and
peers, and as an employee when building relationships within the company and with customers.” Four national finalists are selected in each proficiency award area to compete for a national proficiency award with the winners announced during this year’s virtual National FFA Convention & Expo, Oct., 27-29. —By Joann Pipkin
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Rachel Kaygay Hometown: Archie, Missouri What Rachel does: Rachel owns Rachel Kagay Coaching & Consulting in Maysville, Missouri. what FFA Taught Rachel: FFA helped Rachel realize the value of knowing who she is and what she’s good at. She also learned through FFA that you get out of opportunities what you are willing to invest in them. 8
Servant LEADER oing what needs to be done in service of others is great leadership. That’s advice FFA alumnus Rachel Kagay hopes every member takes to heart. Growing up the daughter of an agricultural education instructor, Kagay says she can’t remember a time when FFA wasn’t a part of her life. “When I was finally able to become a member of the organization, I leapt at the chance,” she says. Raised in rural Cass County, Kagay was a member of the Archie FFA Chapter and managed a diversified livestock SAE that included raising club lambs and Angus cattle. Her FFA activities included state leadership conferences, public speaking and serving as both an area and state officer. “FFA has been a huge part of my life and has significantly impacted who I am today,” she says. In her early 20’s, Kagay says she was set for a future as an FFA advisor in Missouri. She had earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in ag education at the University of Missouri. But other plans ensued, and today Kagay is an entrepreneur, owning Rachel Kagay Coaching & Consulting. Through her business, Kagay works as a leadership and personal development coach, professional speaker and facilitator. Passionate about helping others discover and reach their full potential, she says her role allows her to stay connected to FFA by coaching chapter, area and state officer teams. This year alone, she’s guided FFA members from Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Illinois.
Former FFA member Rachel Kagay shares how FFA impacted who she is today. By Joann Pipkin
“I can’t imagine that I’d be doing anything like what I am today were it not for FFA,” Kagay says. “My career is a direct result of the leadership skills and personal development I benefited from as a member.” In addition to her coaching and consulting business, Kagay and her husband, Bryant, farm along with his family near Maysville where they raise crops, commercial cattle and have a beef feedlot operation. The couple also has two young children, Parker and Kinsley. Gleaning from her personal experiences as an FFA member, Kagay says she learned you get out of opportunities what you are willing to invest into them. “Hard work and dedication are necessary for success,” she says. “I also learned the value of knowing who you are and what you are good at. This enables you to be the best in your areas of talent and embrace the people around you who do some things better than you.” 9
Kagay’s appreciation for servant leadership is also a direct result of her FFA involvement over the years. “The activities I chose to be involved in helped me hone networking and communication skills that still serve me well today,” she says. “I firmly believe in the phrase of the FFA motto, “living to serve.” As part of my work today, I often integrate my heart for servant leadership that was developed through FFA in the content I facilitate.” Kagay encourages FFA members to not only be willing to work hard, but also seek out how the needs of others can be met. “You were created on purpose and with a purpose,” she says. “Take advantage of every great opportunity that comes your way as an FFA member, and once you find that thing that lights you up and exposes what you are great at, lean into it!”
Meet the 2020-21 State FFA officers
Front Row: Kiersten Helm, Lexington, vice president; Lauren Gilbert, Chadwick, vice president; Ricanna Spargo, Naylor, vice president; Felicity Cantrell, Seymour, vice president; Rachel Holt, Chillicothe, vice president. Middle Row: Jenna Perry, Liberal, secretary; Cade Shepherd, Mt. Vernon, vice president; Dakota Pemberton, Richland, vice president; Justin Eddy, Columbia, president; Colin Wilburn, Van-Far, vice president; Kensie Darst, Aurora, state officer mentor. Back Row: Kaylee Lower, Weaubleau, vice president; Erin Heinecke, Paris, vice president; Lauryn Robnett, Audrain Co., vice president; Anna Milazzo, Grundy Co., vice president; Mackenzie Porter, Archie, first vice president; and Madison Moll, Perryville, vice president.
FALL SPEAKING Contests MISSOURI ASSOC. OF SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS www.maswcd.net Contact: Peggy Lemons peggyl@maswcd.net MISSOURI CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION www.mocattle.com Contact: Sydney Thummel sydney@mocattle.com MISSOURI FARM BUREAU www.mofb.org Contact: Eric Volmer evolmer@mofb.com
MISSOURI INSTITUTE OF COOPERATIVES www.mic.coop/ Contact: Kristi Livingston LinvingstonK@missouri.edu MISSOURI PET BREEDERS ASSOCIATION www.mpbaonline.org Contact: Kevin Beauchamp 4agfriends@gmail.com MISSOURI PORK ASSOCIATION http://www.mopork.com/Youth_ FFASpkngCntst.asp Contact: Diane Slater diane@mopork.com MISSOURI QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION www.MoQHA.com Contact: Joe Eddy joe.eddy2814@gmail.com
MISSOURI SHEEP PRODUCERS www.missourisheep.com/ youthprograms.htm Contact: Ed DeOrnellis edornel@amfam.com MISSOURI TEACH AG www.moteachag.org Contact: Pam Rowland pprowland@windstream.net MISSOURI YOUNG FARMERS/FARM WIVES ASSOCIATION Contact: Lisa Evans lisa.evans@dese.mo.gov
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