Tom Shively, the District 8 Missouri State Representative from Shelbyville, has been selected to receive the Agriculture Educators Lifetime Achievement Award at the December 7th and 8th Missouri Livestock Symposium in Kirksville.


The award recognizes and honors a person who has contributed greatly to the agriculture industry through his or her role in agriculture education. Representative Shively will receive the award on Friday evening, December 7 at approximately 7 p.m., following the Livestock Symposium’s free beef dinner at 6 p.m. Hours for the Missouri Livestock Symposium are 4 to 10 p.m. on Friday, December 7 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 8.

For his whole life, Tom Shively has worked to help the people of rural Missouri. During his 30 years as a vocational agriculture teacher, Tom helped prepare thousands of students to handle the modern challenges of farming. For Tom, that comes naturally. Born in rural Missouri, Tom grew up on a farm. He learned the principles of 4-H and FFA. Those are values he still practices today. He understands the importance of education.

Tom was elected in 2006 to serve as Missouri’s 8th district State Representative and is currently running for another term. During his tenure as a State Representative he has served as the House of Representatives Democratic Assistant Whip, in his first year, and last year Tom was elected chairman of the Rural Caucus. He also serves on the Committee on Agri-Business, Appropriations for Ag. and Natural Resources, Committee on Elementary & Secondary Education, Committee on Energy and Environment and Interim Committee on Agriculture Innovation and Economic Recovery. As such, he leads Missouri's rural House members formulating policy, developing strategy and generating support for rural legislative priorities.

Tom is a veteran, serving in the United States Air Force National Guard, and attaining the rank of Technical Sergeant. A graduate of the University of Missouri, Shively has served as past Vice-President of the Missouri Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association, and has served on several community boards.

A 1964 graduate of North Shelby High School in Shelbyville, Missouri, Tom earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture in 1968 from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Tom and his wife, Rose reside in Shelbyville, Missouri and are the parents of three children -- Scot, Jeff and Melissa -- and 11 grandchildren. He presently farms with his son in a row crop and cow calf operation.

The Missouri Livestock Symposium congratulates Tom Shively on being selected for the 2012 Agriculture Educators Lifetime Achievement Award and thanks him and his family for the significant contribution made to agriculture in northeast Missouri and beyond.

There is no cost to attend the Symposium and no pre-registration is required. The Livestock Symposium features an ag-related trade show, nationally known speakers on all species of livestock (beef cattle, sheep, meat goats, horses), stock dogs, forages and more! The program is held at the Kirksville Middle School in Kirksville. More details can be found at www.missourilivestock.com or by calling the Adair County Extension Center at 660-665-9866 or 660-341-6625.