Butler County students join state celebration of farmers

While Gov. Mike Parson drove a John Deere tractor to the state Capitol in honor of the FFA Week in Missouri, Twin Rivers High School FFA students rode their four-wheelers to school Wednesday and tractors on Thursday.

Nationally, there are nearly 650,000 FFA members. Missouri ranks seventh in the nation with more than 25,000 members.

Parson proclaimed Feb. 20-27, 2021, as National FFA Week in Missouri on behalf of the state’s FFA members. Missouri FFA President Justin Eddy of Columbia received the proclamation on behalf of the 2020-2021 Missouri FFA state officer team.

“Missouri agriculture has a bright future, and you can see that in action through our FFA members,” Parson said. “Living and working on a farm is one of my greatest honors, and the First Lady and I continue to look to these young leaders to move the agriculture industry forward for generations to come.”

FFA chapters in Butler County and in Greenville planned a variety of activities for the week.

Twin Rivers FFA sponsor Charlie Barker explained school activities began Tuesday, since the students weren’t in class Monday.

“Tuesday, we celebrated with pizza, a movie and cowboy church,” Barker said. “Wednesday was ride your four wheeler to school, and Cornhole day. We had 10 or 15 of them (on four wheelers), then they all went mudding after school.”

Tractors showed up in the Twin Rivers student parking area Thursday for drive your tractor to school day, Barker said.

On Friday, a teacher and member appreciation barbecue was held.

“We cook for all the faculty and administration and the FFA members,” Barker said.

Twin Rivers has about 40 members this year, but, Barker said, “we usually have between 50 and 60” members.

Neelyville FFA sponsor Caleb Stewart explained his 34 members have observed the week by having spirit week at school. One day the students dressed like a farmer. Another day was wear FFA colors and barbecue and teacher appreciation day was Friday.

Stewart has been the group’s sponsor for four years. As a student, he was an FFA member at Neelyville.

Poplar Bluff FFA advisor Kathryn Clark admits “it has been an unusual year for us for FFA week, between the snow days and I’ve fractured my right arm, so I’m limited in what I can do.”

The members are enjoying Audrie Sievers’ goat who “hung out with us all week and played trivia games,” Clark said. “Our greenhouse plant plugs have arrived late due to the cold weather, so we have been busy working in the greenhouse.”

While the FFA chapters in Butler County celebrated this week, Greenville FFA members decided to wait until spring, when their sponsor Scott Payne returns from his current deployment with the U.S. Army Reserve. He is serving as a chaplain at an Army hospital in Germany. The announcement was made by the group’s long-term substitute, Charlotte Massa. They will celebrate with dress-up days, service projects and leadership opportunities.

For the third year in a row, Parson drove a tractor in honor of the FFA tradition of students driving their tractors to school during National FFA Week. Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe also joined in on the tradition again this year.

Kehoe said, “as a first-generation farmer, it’s exciting to see the opportunities available to our young people through the FFA. It was really important to the governor and I that we continued the tradition this year to let our FFA members know that we are here for them. They are a true representation of Missouri’s greatness and continue to make Missouri proud.”

FFA began in 1928, when 33 young men met at the Baltimore Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, and began the National Future Farmers of America Organization. Today, 93 years later, the organization is officially known as the National FFA Organization and represented by 8,700 FFA chapters and 760,000 members nationwide.

“The passion our FFA students bring to Missouri agriculture is exciting,” Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn said. “Their enthusiasm brings the promise of a strong and vibrant future for agriculture. FFA develops solid leaders who grow stronger communities, and this strengthens agriculture in every corner of our state. I’m proud to stand with these young leaders and advocate for them each day.”

Missouri FFA continues to help the next generation rise up to the challenges of feeding a growing population by helping its members develop their unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of career pathways through agricultural education. Missouri is home to more than 350 chapters and 25,600 members.

“Missouri public schools work hard to prepare students for success after graduation and ensure they are ready to lead our future workforce, and student organizations like FFA are instrumental in that work,” Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Margie Vandeven said. “We truly value our outstanding FFA members and their educators and love taking time each year to celebrate all they do for our great state.”

FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about the Missouri FFA Association, visit MissouriFFA.org.