Grace Doss found her passion in FFA

meet yourneighbors Finding Her Way with FFA

By Stephanie Beltz-Price State Officer Grace Doss said she quickly became passionate about 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.

“My middle school self didn’t know what FFA was,” recalled Grace Doss. “I thought sports were going to be my future. Now I can’t imagine life without FFA.”

Grace is now a State FFA vice president who graduated from West Plains High School in Howell County, Mo., in May 2022 as a member of West Plains FFA.

“I grew up on a farm, but wasn’t involved in the farm until I joined FFA,” she explained. “My dad and uncle convinced me I needed a basic understanding of agriculture, so I enrolled in the ag classes and joined FFA.

“I was half-hearted when I first got involved and then it steam rolled into my passion. The more I did – speech contests, showing livestock, judging livestock – the more West Plains, Mo. time I invested, the leadership positions followed and formed me into the leader and person I am today,” she said with a smile. Grace served her chapter as assistant vice president her sophomore year, and as president her junior and senior years. She was area secretary her senior year and now as a freshman in college she is serving as state vice president. “I wanted to serve as a state officer, but I was scared to make the commitment,” she said. “It was a last minute decision but one I am so happy I made. It is a way to give back to the area and chapter that did so much for me,” she explained. Her SAE project is diversified livestock – beef and goats – and her herd is still growing. “Overall, our family runs a commercial cow/calf operation but we also have 23 head of registered Red and black Angus and nine head of Boer goats,” Grace said. “As part of my SAE, I utilized exchange 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

As a freshman at Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo., Grace is pursuing 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

meet your neighbors

to my parents/family who encouraged me to joined FFA, they were all helping me become a better person and leader.

Grace is the daughter of Dennis and Sharlyn Doss and has two sisters, Macie (15) and Dixie (5).

“I think Macie thinks its kind of cool to have a sister who is a State FFA Officer. Dixie just knows I have another FFA Jacket with a gold chain,” Grace grinned.

She had four advisors during her time in West Plains FFA. “Mr. (Jay) Hale and Mrs. (Tonya) Jedlicka where the two main advisors who encouraged me during my FFA time,” Grace explained. “Mr. (Grant) Talburt was an advisor my Freshman year and Ms. (Sarah) Elrod was also an advisor while I was in high school.”

WHY FFA?

Participating in livestock judging with a team who made it to state, being on the horse judging team her junior year and making it to state competition and finishing fourth, being on the training team for dairy foods and giving two state speeches all helped Grace grow into the leader she is today. “In some of my speeches now, I tell of a time I failed successfully,” she recalled. “It was the second time I was giving a speech on Teach Ag. I made districts and in the middle of the speech, I went completely blank. As I reached into my pocket to get my note cards, them pulled them out and they flung forward all over the floor. It was embarrassing, but how I handled myself and came back from that moment, still got me second in the contest. So it’s not always about winning, but about how you handle yourself on the way there.

“FFA is not like anything you’ve ever experienced,” explained Grace. “It’s hands-on, listening, made for everyone, so different than anything you’ve ever faced and it is scary,” she added. “It is so hard to describe because you don’t know what you’re missing until you know! Looking back you realize how much you have grown and changed and it honestly is never bad. It really does change your life,” she said with a smile.

Specializing In SW Mo. Farms & Ranches!

“A Cattleman Who Knows Real Estate”

ADJOINING PROPERTIES

STOCKTON - Hwy B, 153 Ac. This beautiful 153 ac. Has it all! Bottom ground, scattered woods and upground w/nice highway frontage, some sites, cattle-tights fence, Cedar Creek fl owing through entire property. Don’t miss! .....................................$688,500 STOCKTON - Hwy B, 250 Ac. Really nice, mostly open property for livestock & hay production, upland & bottom ground, pipe corrals, well, Cedar Creek fl owing through entire property ...................... $1,125,000

BRIGHTON - 3 to 6 Acre residential lots, paved roads, underground electric ...................... ...............................STARTING AT $45,000 ASH GROVE - Hwy MM, 60 Ac., This great property offers new fencing, mostly open pastures, pond, road frontage, Lawrence County ......... SOLD ..............................................$255,000 EVERTON - 45 Ac. Dade 177. Great panoramic views, mostly open, scattered trees, pond, road frontage on 2 sides................$292,500 FORDLAND - Stewerd Drive, 25.5 Ac., Beautiful land w/great open views, multi. building sites, open, good fencing. .....................$306,240 EVERTON - 80 Ac. Dade 77. Mostly open, scattered walnuts, fenced, gently rolling. .......... ..............................................$440,000 STOCKTON - Hwy M, 78 Ac., Nice balance of open/wooded ground, 3 BR home with w/o basement, 24x36 morton barn, horse barn, equip. shed, good fencing. ............$485,000 DADEVILLE - 61 Ac. Dade 16, Great farm very close to Stockton Lake, nice home, 30x40, shop, 2 barns, great fencing & ponds, adjoinUNDER CONTRACT ing government land. ...................$525,000 MT. VERNON - Law. 2100, 21 Ac., Great equestrian facility, 2 BR home, stable barn, indoor arena, pipe turnout pens w/run in sheds, large outdoor sand arena ......................$585,000 BOLIVAR - 325th Road, 202 Ac., This 202 +/- acre property is located north of Bolivar & adjacent to Pomme de Terre Lake, great hunting, livestock or recreation ground...$649,000 FORDLAND - 80 Ac., Greenhill Rd., Nice 4 BR, 3 BA walkout basement home, 40x60 shop, horse/hay barn, feeding traps & concrete line UNDER CONTRACT bunks, close to Hwy 60 .................$695,000 EVERTON - 130 Ac. Dade 117. 1.4 miles of road frontage on three sides, open, fences, well, pond, pipe corals, great views........... $715,000

LOCKWOOD - 160 Ac CR 41. Open and level pasture ground just north of Lockwood, fenced, rural water. ...............................$720,000 SQUIRES - CR 955, 264 Ac., Beautiful farm situated in a valley south of Ava, 3 BR home, shop, garage, equipment shed, livestock barn, SOLD ponds, creek. Don’t miss this one! ...$750,000 LOCKWOOD - 138 Ac CR 72. Road frontage on 2 sides, mostly all tillable, great Location ......... ............................................... $759,000 GREENFIELD - Dade 125, 181 Ac., Great grass farm, new fencing & waterers, multiple pastures, new pipe corral, ponds, Nice! .. $724,000SOLD PIERCE CITY - Unicorn Rd., 122 Ac., Updated & operating dairy farm, 75 cow pre-stall, double 4 herringbone, hay barns, shop, calf barn, 3 BR home, cropland ........................... $825,000 FORDLAND -155 Ac., Tall Grass Rd., Nice open farm, tillable ground, shop, commodity barn, feed pens, pipe corrals .................. $995,000 EVERTON - 186 Ac. Dade 184. Fenced and crossfenced, well, several ponds, barn, shed, one mile of road frontage. Very Nice! ....$1,018,350 MOUNTAIN GROVE - 140 Ac. CR 76-149, Beautiful property lying South of Mountain Grove, 6,350 sq. ft. home is exquisite custom built w/ imported cypress, 40x60 insulated shop, 2 BR cabin, too much to list............... $1,750,000 LEBANON - 414 Ac. Just off Hwy 64, great grass farm, over 200 acres of bottom ground, home, equipment/hay building, fence & cross fence, NICE ..................................... $1,904,400 EVERTON - 522 Ac., Dade 184, all contiguous w/road frontage throughout, great open pasture w/views all around, 14 ponds, 2 barns, pipe/corral, really nice ............. $2,583,900 THEODOSIA - Wallace Ranch Rd., 638 Ac., Beautiful open and productive farm, live water, multi. springs, pipe corral, multi. barns, new 50x60 insulated shop, 3 BR w/o basement home, paved drive, privacy, really nice ....... ........................................... $3,000,000 GAINESVILLE - 1,753 Ac. Hwy N, Great grass farm setup & ready to go, 750 Ac. open, 1,000 Ac. timber, 4 BR home, commodity barn, equipment & livestock barns, great water & fencing ......... .............................................. $4,999,000 NORWOOD - 2,590 Ac. Hwy 76 CR 137, Exceptional cattle ranch in heart of cow/calf country, mostly open w/fence, 3 acres of bottom ground, many buildings, 30 plus ponds & SOLD pipe water, 2 nice homes, too much to list .... ........................................... $7,888,200 tomkisseerealestate.com 417.882.5531

Mark Your Calendars!

To Better Serve You, Now Holding Two Special Dairy Sales Per Month, 2nd & 4th Tuesday of Each Month Special Dairy Sale

Tuesday • November 8th Reg. Feeder & Holstein Steer Special

Wednesday • November 9th Feeder Wean-Vac Special Sale

Wednesday • November 16th Special Cow Sale

Saturday • November 19th • 4 p.m. Special Dairy Sale

Tuesday • November 22nd Reg. Feeder & Holstein Steer Special

Wednesday • November 23rd Stock Cow & Bull Sale

Starts 9 a.m. Every Monday Feeder Cattle Sale

Starts 7 a.m. Every Wednesday Dairy Sale

Sale starts at 11 a.m. every 2nd & 4th Tues.

Josh Ford Tonto Kissee Jake Ford

839-3610

Steve Hawk

224-5047 788-2240 838-4638

Kelly Crain

376-2878 839-0613 225-8929

Tye Stokes

316-3435

Cowboy Church Every Thursday Night at 7 p.m.

Visit Us Online At

Springfi eldLivestockMarketingCenter.com

facebook.com/Springfi eldLivestockMarketingCenter

Exit 70 • I-44 & Hwy. MM, Approx. 3 Mi. W. of Springfi eld & 1 Mi. E of James River Hwy.

417.869.9500

19