meet your neighbors
Finding Her Way with FFA
Grace Doss wasn’t interested in agriculture, but at the urging of family members, she took ag classes her freshman year and joined FFA. Today she is a state officer.
By Stephanie Beltz-Price
State Officer Grace Doss said she quickly became passionate about FFA “My middle school self didn’t me into the leader and person I am toknow what FFA was,” recalled day,” she said with a smile. Grace Doss. “I thought sports were Grace served her chapter as assistant going to be my future. Now I can’t imag- vice president her sophomore year, and ine life without FFA.” as president her junior and senior years. Grace is now a State FFA vice presi- She was area secretary her senior year dent who graduated from West Plains and now as a freshman in college she is High School in Howell County, Mo., serving as state vice president. in May 2022 as a member of West “I wanted to serve as a state officer, but Plains FFA. I was scared to make the commitment,” “I grew up on a farm, but wasn’t in- she said. “It was a last minute decision volved in the farm until I joined FFA,” but one I am so happy I made. It is a way she explained. “My dad and uncle con- to give back to the area and chapter that vinced me I needed a basic understand- did so much for me,” she explained. ing of agriculture, so I enrolled in the ag Her SAE project is diversified liveclasses and joined FFA. stock – beef and goats – and her herd “I was half-hearted when I is still growing. first got involved and then “Overall, our family runs a comit steam rolled into my pasmercial cow/calf operation sion. The more I did – speech but we also have 23 head of contests, showing livestock, registered Red and black Anjudging livestock – the more West Plains, Mo. gus and nine head of Boer time I invested, the leadership goats,” Grace said. “As part positions followed and formed of my SAE, I utilized ex-
change of labor hours, working on the farm doing what a farm kid does – helping hay, feed and upkeep of the fences,” she said. “When I joined FFA, I started getting more involved directly in the cattle operation.”
STATE FFA
Grace decided to run for state office and was one of 25 members from across the state to participate. “Generally, there are two candidates from each area who participate in a twoday interview process before the State FFA Convention, which is held in April,” she explained. “It’s a high-stress, high-intensity event, but very fulfilling.” At the end of the two days, those selected are announced so FFA members know if they made the state team or not. “The officers aren’t announced until the state convention on the stage,” she added. “So that part still includes some anxiety, wondering if you were chosen as one of the top three leadership positions.”
COLLEGE
18
Photos by Stephanie Beltz-Price
As a freshman at Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo., Grace is pur-
Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com
suing a double major in agricultural education and agricultural communications. “I have not always been a huge fan of school,” Grace chuckled. “But I want to come back to the area and teach ag knowing that communications is a very vital part of being able to advocate successfully for agriculture. All parts of knowledge are important, but if you can’t communicate to those who don’t know about agriculture, having the knowledge isn’t as impressive. Communications is the key to all aspects of life, not just agriculture. “I plan to become more involved in activities on campus such as Collegiate Cattlemen’s, Block and Bridle, and ACT (Ag Communicators of Tomorrow),” Grace explained.
MENTORS
Family, friends and advisors rank in Grace’s top mentor categories. “My first day of FFA, was terrifying, but once I got more involved and realized how they were pushing me to be better, it was so fulfilling,” she said. “From the struggling farmer who took the time to talk to me about agriculture NOVEMBER 7, 2022
