Missouri FFA members have converged in Columbia for the 96th Missouri FFA Convention, held at the Hearnes Center of MU. This year’s theme, “Open the Door,” emphasizes opportunities in agricultural education and leadership, drawing more than 8,000 students and guests.
Keith Dietzschold, Missouri FFA Advisor and Chillicothe native highlighted the awards for outstanding FFA achievements. More than one thousand members (1,051 to be exact) earned the State FFA Degrees for their exceptional contributions to agriculture and leadership. Additionally, Missouri boasts the highest number of American FFA Degree recipients nationally, with 608 members honored at the 2023 national convention in Indianapolis.
The convention features the State Stars awards in various sectors like farming, agribusiness, placement, and agri-science. A notable 562 members are recognized across 46 agricultural proficiency areas, which range from production and management to communications, reflecting the extensive impact of their supervised agricultural experience (SAE) programs. In 2022, these programs generated over $58 million in student income in Missouri. Furthermore, the FFA members engage in career development events including agricultural sales, floriculture, livestock evaluation, and public speaking competitions.
This year, the Missouri FFA will award 25 Honorary State FFA Degrees and 16 honorary degrees to parents of retiring state officers. Additionally, five new FFA chapters will be chartered, including Bell City, Ellington, Glendale, STA at Paradise Park, and Van Buren.
National FFA Secretary Grant Norfleet, from Mexico, Missouri, delivered a compelling address last evening. Having exhibited cattle at local, county, and state levels with his brother, Norfleet shared insights from his beef production SAE. Post his tenure as a National FFA Officer, he plans to return to M-U to pursue agricultural education and leadership.
The event also features speeches from notable figures such as Missouri Agriculture Director Chris Chinn, MU’s Vice Chancellor and Agriculture Dean Christopher Daubert, and Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven. M-U President Mun Choi and Governor Mike Parson will speak in later sessions. The Missouri FFA Association proudly represents 26,830 members across 362 chapters.
