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MISSOURI FFA TODAY

Value the Past, Embrace Your Future 85th Annual Missouri FFA Convention April 18-19

Table of ContentsPAge B The President’s Position

PAge C Apply Now for LeAD, Public Speaking Academy

PAge D Joplin FFA Recovers

PAge F State Officer Q&A

PAge J Livestock Judging from Abroad

PAge L In their Words

PAge N HYMAX Applications Sought

PAge O FFA Calendar

Spring 2013

CONTINUED ON PAGE H

Greg, Nathan and Kendal Peterson, the Kansas farm boys whose parody song “I’m Farming and I Grow It” went viral last summer, will perform on Friday after-noon April 19 at the Missouri FFA Convention.—Photo submitted by Peterson Family

COnTESTS, AwARDS, MOREBY JOAnn PIPKIn, EDITOR

The Kansas farm boys that made the video of the parody song “I’m Farming and I Grow It” go viral

last summer are bound for the 85th Missouri FFA Convention, April 18-19, in Columbia.

The Peterson Farm Brothers —Greg, Nathan and Kendall —will sing and deliver remarks during the afternoon session on Friday, April 19 at the University

of Missouri’s Hearnes Center.

In addition to their appearance at the Friday afternoon session, the trio will have a booth in the FFA career show.

From Assaria, Kan., and a student at Kansas State University, Greg told AgriTalk farm radio last summer, “We

wanted to promote agriculture for what it really is. People need to know where their food comes from.

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2011-2012 State FFA OfficersArea Officer 1 Ryan Messner Stanberry

2 Samantha Gibson Norborne

3 Rhian Beldon South Shelby

4 Jaelyn Bergmann - President Paris

5 Sonja Perry - Secretary Bowling green

6 Kenneth Swope Boonville

7 Allyson Smith Crest Ridge

8 Katie Gibson Nichols Career Ctr

9 Sarah Bastin Carthage

10 Cody Stewart Ash grove

11 Courtney Spencer - 1st V.P. Aurora

12 Ashlee Jones Sparta

13 Mallary Burris Bakersfield

14 Cody Shoop Linn

15 Anna Eftink Bloomfield

16 Sam Turner Bernie

2 Brady James - Past President Knox County

Missouri FFA Today • Joann Pipkin, Editor3674 S. State Hwy N • Republic, MO 65738

email: joann.pipkin@att.netPhone: (417) 732-8552

Department of elem. & Sec. education P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102

Phone: (573) 751-3544.

District Supervisors: Nancy Alford, Leon Busdieker, Oscar Carter, Keith

Dietzschold, Lisa evans & Steven RogersThe Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,

religion, gender, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. Inquiries related to Department programs and to the location of services, activities, and facilities that are accessible by persons with disabilities may be directed to the Jefferson State Office Building, Office of the General Counsel, Coordinator – Civil Rights Compliance (Title VI/Title IX/504/ADA/Age Act), 6th Floor, 205 Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City,

MO 65102-0480; telephone number 573-526-4757 or TTY 800-735-2966; fax number 573-522-4883; email civilrights@dese.mo.gov.

BY JAELYn BERGMAnnSTATE FFA PRESIDEnT

THE PRESIDEnT’S POSITIOnHard Work, Perseverence Pay

For the past four years when spring arrived, I started

looking forward to the State FFA Convention. In my chapter, you had to earn your way to convention by qualifying in a CDE (Career Development Event) or LDE (Leadership Development Event).

It was my junior year, spring was around the corner and it was time to decide contest teams. Three FFA friends and I decided it would be fun to form a team and try our hand at the Poultry Evaluation CDE. Our team consisted of four girls that had NEVER touched a chicken before. This CDE consists of identifying cuts of meat, candling eggs, taking a 50 question test, handling live birds for placing and giving reasons. Wow! This contest would be challenging, but with determination and perseverance we thought we could get to the state level.

We started studying, practiced candling eggs and spent countless hours in the ag building handling birds and talking reasons. Finally, the big day was here, we loaded the bus and headed to the district contest that would determine if we had prepared enough to earn our way to the state convention.

We were ready for whatever was inside the doors of the poultry competition. I carefully answered each question and double checked my placings. I turned in my score card and our team anxiously waited for the scores to be posted. After what seemed like hours, the scores were up and we would find out if our hard work had paid off.

There it was, we had placed 4th and were headed to the State FFA Convention! Even though we reached our goal, we did not stop there. We set a new goal to get on stage, as one of the top three teams in the state. After a long and grueling state contest, it was again time to wait for the scores to be posted. We had done it! We placed 2nd in the State Poultry Evaluation CDE. We realized our hard work and perseverance had paid off when we stood on the stage and accepted our plaque.

State FFA Convention has always been a thrilling and rewarding time for me. I not only

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achieved contest goals, but also gained friendships, agricultural knowledge and work ethics. Just as my team saw an opportunity, we stepped out of our comfort zones and accepted the challenge. My hope is that you realize what FFA has in store for you if you are dedicated and determined to accomplish your goals. I anticipate each of you is willing to invest time and hard work into contest teams and have the ability to compete at the state level.

See you at the State FFA Convention!

Presiden’ts PositionContinued from Page B

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LEAD, Speaking Academy Opportunities

Chapter officers and advisors will come together May 28-31 as the LEAD Conference kicks off at seven locations across the state. Sponsored by the FFA Leadership Fund the Learn, Educate, Ad-

vance Develop conference brings officers and their advisors together as they start off a new year as a new officer team. The teams will set goals, officer codes of conduct/expectations, develop a program of activities and calendar of activities, and explore how to work with the different person-alities on their team.

Sessions will be held May 28 at College of Ozarks and Shelbina; May 29 at Springfield and Trenton; May 30 at Richmond and Rolla; and May 31 at Cape Girardeau and Sedalia.

In addition to LEAD, FFA members are encouraged to take part in this year’s Public Speaking Academy. If you would like to learn more about how to put together and present a speech this unique opportunity is for you. The Public Speaking Academy is set for June 4-6 at the University of Central Missuri in Warrensburg. Registration is due by May 15.

Contact your chapter advisor for more information.

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(left) Until the new Joplin High School is completed, the 11th and 12th grade campus is located in a renovated portion of Northpark Mall in Joplin. (above) An iconic Joplin FFA Chapter jacket was all that was salvaged from the program after the May 2011 tornado ripped through the town.

Ripped to ShredsJoplin FFA Still Rebuilding after 2011 Tornado

CHAPTER FInDS wAYS TO GIVE BACKBY SAMAnTHA wARnER

The EF5 tornado that ripped through the town of Joplin

on May 22, 2011 forever changed the community and its people. The Joplin FFA chapter was no exception. Six FFA members lost their homes and one student was seriously injured according to Jason Cutler, the Joplin FFA Advisor. Yet, those students did not feel the tornado’s fury alone; it left the entire chapter reeling in its aftermath.

The storm itself not only destroyed Joplin High School, but also its FFA program. The tornado destroyed the high school and in turn the FFA program. The only item salvaged from the program was a ripped Joplin FFA jacket.

“I found the torn up FFA jacket wrapped around a metal I-beam that used to be part of the roof of our ag building. That I-beam was probably 300 feet away from where the building used to be,” Cutler said.

The jacket served as a beacon of hope for the chapter in the

months following the tragedy. It traveled with the chapter to its first event after the tornado (LEAD Conference in Springfield) and to the 2011 National FFA Convention.

Life TodayA year and a half after the

tornado, life is still not back to normal. Today, the Joplin High School is housed on two campuses until a new school can be built. The 9th and 10th grades are in an old school building in downtown Joplin, while the 11th and 12th grades are in a renovated portion of Joplin’s Northpark Mall.

Joplin FFA President, junior Mariah Howerton said, “It’s weird going to school in a place where you usually just go on the weekends to buy clothes and stuff.”

Cutler who was finishing his first year of teaching when the tornado blew through town has also felt the abnormality of the situation. Until the new school is finished Cutler is using a FEMA trailer and sharing a classroom with a biology teacher.

“I already felt like I was in over my head before the tornado hit. Truthfully, I had a terrible first year; I wasn’t even sure I wanted to be a teacher at least half of the time, and contemplated quitting,” Cutler admitted. “I really felt like

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the survival or death of our FFA chapter was up to me. That is a burden nobody should have to bear alone.”

Cutler went on to say that feeling subsides when he sees his students committed to making a difference in the community and rebuilding their FFA chapter.

Struggles to InspirationJunior Billy Stone is one

of those students committed to making a difference in his community. Stone and his family were originally from Texas, but became Joplin residents after the tornado.

“My dad was medically retired from the military and my grandparents were hit by the tornado so we decided to come on down and help everything out and we ended up staying here,” Stone said.

Now Stone is an FFA member continuing to give back to his community. He is not the only example of support the community and FFA chapter has received amid the tragedy.

“We got checks, notes of encouragement, official dress items and more from all over the state and country. I can think of about 30 FFA chapters from Missouri that sent us something,” Cutler notes. “We had people from Maine and Massachusetts send us money and notes of encouragement. Ravenswood, W.Va., and Palatka, Fla., came to Joplin (to help).”

Cutler said members of the Barbers Hill, Tex., FFA gathered donations from other Texas

FFA chapters during their state convention and sent them to Joplin. Other supporters included MFA Charitable Foundation, MFA Oil, Missouri Farm Bureau, North Dakota FFA and Florida FFA.

“We saw people come from all over the state, country, even world and lend a helping hand. They didn’t know us, really didn’t know anything about us, but they were still there to help whoever needed help. It didn’t matter if you were rich or poor. It didn’t matter what color your skin was, what kind of background you came from, if you went to college or not,” Howerton said.

Rebuilding, Giving BackThe rebuilding process is not

an easy one. Cutler said the biggest surprise has been how unprepared he was for the process of rebuilding an entire agriculture program and FFA chapter, but he is hopeful for the future of the program. He would like to have a two-teacher program with an enrollment of 225 to 250 students per year and

would like to focus more on areas of agriculture that are the most prevalent in the Joplin area.

“My short-term vision is for a thriving ag program and FFA chapter here in Joplin,” Cutler said.

As the chapter continues to regain its strength, it is focusing more and more attention to giving back. One of the chapter’s main efforts will be on tree planting, maintenance and education.

“It’s still hard sometimes not to have all of the things our program had before the tornado, but I have made a bigger effort to get to know students and let them know I am there to help them in life, school, work and FFA,” Cutler said. “I just want to be able to take a step back and say, ‘Am I impacting students for the better?’ and if I can say yes to that question, then I need to smile and realize that I am becoming a successful teacher and our chapter is becoming a successful chapter.”

Joplin FFA Advisor Jason Cutler doesn’t have the most ideal teaching situation. His main classroom is a renovated FEMA trailer and the greenhouse was built on top of old tennis courts located next to a power station.

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SARAH BASTIn

State Officer Q&AWho’s that underneath the blue corduroy?

State Vice President Sarah Bastin’s hero is her grandmother because of her inspiring vision, work ethic and way with people.

FFA Chapter: Carthage FFA

Hometown: Golden City

College/Major: Agriculture Business & Agriculture Comm.

SAE: I work on my family farm and raise 10 acres of soybeans and wheat. I also raise and show commercial and registered Hereford cattle.

What motivated you to want to become a Missouri FFA Officer? FFA has always been a big part of my life. I had seen how the past state officers had motivated me to be the best that I could and they had such a great

influence in my life. I wanted to give back to the FFA and what it has done for me. Becoming a state officer helped me to give back and become an influencer for those around me.

Who is your hero and why? My grandma has always been my greatest hero. She is a person who has stuck to her moral compass no matter what may interfere in her path. She had a vision for herself and her children and followed through. Although her goals of having a strong family with great moral values and faith might seem small, for her it was all she wanted. To this day she continues to be one of the hardest working people I know. She isn’t afraid to

speak her mind, but will always leave you with a smile on your face. She is my hero because of her inspiring vision, work ethic, and way with people. I only hope to become half the kind of person she is one day.

What are your plans for the future? I plan to continue my SAE of raising crops and cattle while also attending Missouri State University to pursue a degree in Agriculture Business and Agriculture Communications.

What is something unique or interesting that few people know about you? I have a twin sister. Her name is Jenny, and yes we do look alike, but not that much. We aren’t exactly identical but we aren’t really fraternal either.

Coming Soon to a an

Internet Near You

www.missouriffa.org

Watch for our boothat Hearnes CenterDuring the StateFFA Convention.

Learn what’s in store for you when Missouri FFA hits the world

wide web—APRIL 2013!

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KATIE GIBSOn

State FFA Vice President Katie Gibson learned from her mom that no matter what obstacles life throws at you, you can make it through if you keep your head up.

OZARKS TECHNICALCOMMUNITY

COLLEGE

Agriculture

Welding

FFA Chapter: Nichols Career Ctr

Hometown: Holts Summit

College/Major: University of Missouri- Columbia/ Animal Science

SAE: I raise Angus cattle and chickens that I use for pullet production, and to sell eggs. Also, I prepare and serve food at Cameron’s Country Café.

What motivated you to want to become a Missouri FFA Officer? Throughout my four years in FFA, I watched many state officers and admired them. They took the time to get to know members and that really inspired me. I wanted my chance to reach out to younger FFA members and help them grow.

Who is your hero and why? My hero would have to be my mom. She has shown me that no matter what obstacles life throws at you, if you keep your head up, you can make it through.

What are your plans for the future? After I graduate from Mizzou, I plan to get my DVM and start my own veterinary clinic while continuing my farm at home.

What is something unique or interesting that few people know about you? I love fireworks. My family runs a fireworks tent during the summer and has a big celebration with them every year.

Advice to FFA Members: Do your best. Give 110% in everything that you do. If you do that, when you look back, you won’t have any regrets, and there aren’t any “what if’s”.

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85th Annual State FFA ConventionContinued from Page A

FFA members will have fun and learn leader-ship skills when they take part in the workshops offered during the annual State FFA Convention which convenes April 18-19 in Columbia.

People need to know who farmers are. We’re not bad people. We’re just trying to do our jobs and feed the world.”

Themed, “Value the Past, Embrace Your Future,” this year’s convention also features career development events, workshops, the FFA Career Show and awards presentations. Headlining the convention will be Harriet Turk, who for more than 20 years has challenged her audiences to think seriously about their life choices. In a world peppered with indifference, complacency, and difficult decisions, Turk offers a unique and fresh perspective regarding leadership, loyalty and living fully. Powerful, engaging and insightful, you are sure to leave her

program with a clear, practical, message about healthy lifestyles—a believe in yourself and the value of your life! Turk promises to “tell it like it is.” As inspiring as her message is, Turk won’t give you unrealistic hope. By reinforcing the concept that we all possess

personal power, you will learn that while you might be in charge of your choices, you don’t always get to choose the consequences. Learning how to cope with failure and trying again are essential and Harriet Turk will show you how to “Just Deal With It!”

Missouri FFA also welcomes to the convention stage this year National FFA Secretary Kalie Hall. The Georgia native credits a mentor for offering a simple piece of advice that has defined her approach to life.

“I was told, ‘Remember where you’ve come from and meet people where they are,’” she said. “That’s something I’ll never forget.” As a national FFA officer, Hall hopes to agricultural education in the lives of students by investing in everyone who is in its sphere of influence, she said.

“Agricultural education has taught me to listen and given me experiences through which to understand,” Hall explained. “People need hope. Agricultural education has given me an avenue

Harriet Turk will challenge FFA members to think seriously about their life choices as she headlines this year’s State FFA Convention, April 18-19 in Columbia.

Continued on Next Page

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Missouri FFA Today: “2012 MFA Foundation” 63 4" x 41 2"Art director: Craig J. Weiland cweiland@mfa-inc.com

MFA Incorporated

Raise your hand

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The future of agriculture and rural places depends on the competence and confidence of today’s students. You have a part to play, and we want to help. The MFA Foundation helps students achieve their academic goals through scholarships awarded by MFA Incorporated and MFA Oil agencies. Visit http://www.mfafoundation.com/.

through which to provide it.”In addition to these special

guest speakers, the 85th Annual Missouri FFA Convention will feature workshops for members to enhance their leadership potential. The annual FFA Career Show promises excitement for FFA members and guests alike. The Star State Farmer, State Star in Agribusiness and State Star in Placement awards will be presented and more than 7000 state FFA degree recipients will also be recognized during the convention. More than 7,000 FFA members, parents and guests are expected to converge on Columbia for the state’s premier FFA event.

(left) Poultry Evaluation is just one of the Career Development Events FFA mem-bers will take part in during the annual State FFA Convention. (right) National FFA Secretary Kalie Hall will be a featured speaker during the annual event.

Cont’d from Previous Page

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Jon Bellis works alongside the Scottish competitors to place a class of Border Leicester sheep. Jon and fellow team members Sami Johnson, Hannah Isaacson and Courtney Spencer as well as Aurora FFA Chapter Advisor Jim Spencer at-tended the Royal Highlands Livestock Contest in Edinburgh, Scotland.

“I Placed this Class...”Career Development event Sends FFA Members Abroad

TEAM COMPETES In SCOTLAnD BY COURTnEY SPEnCER

Once winter break comes to an end, high school students find

themselves falling back into their normal routines. That is unless you are an eager FFA member looking to take part in a Career Development Event. Returning back to school means spending countless hours in the agriculture education department, setting team goals and bonding with your teammates!

My junior year I could hardly contain my eagerness to begin working on the Livestock Evaluation Career Development Event. My teammates and I continually worked to better us and push each other to reach his/her full potential. As State Convention approached we began to experience those ever-evident nerves. This could be the last time we would ever

judge together as a team and we were determined to leave all we had on that arena floor. After much anticipation, we learned that we had been rewarded for our hard work and had won first place in the State!

Judging at a national contest is no small task and we wanted to make Missouri proud and represent the state well in Indianapolis. After completing the two days of judging at the national contest, my teammates and I believed that we had made the most of the opportunity in which we had

been presented. We soon learned that we had finished fourth overall! A fourth place finish meant one more thing—we were invited to travel internationally and compete in the Royal Highlands Livestock Contest in Edinburgh, Scotland!

On June 17, 2012 we boarded a plane bound for London, England

Courtney Spencer handles a Border Leicester sheep to evaluate for muscle during the Royal Highlands Livestock Contest in Edinburgh, Scotland.

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to begin our agricultural tour across Europe. Upon arriving in London, we were given a few days to view the historic sites and explore the city. Our adventures in London ended as we traveled on into Scotland. Our first item on the list in Scotland was to tour a traditional Scottish cattle and sheep operation. The next two days we attended the Royal Highlands Show in Edinburgh, Scotland. The first day was reserved for us to view the livestock and get accustomed to the differences in phenotype. Our second day at the Royal Highlands Show was judging day where my teammates and I competed along side the Scottish teams. The contest was slightly different than what we had been used to, but our Scottish friends were eager to help us adapt. Later that day, my teammates and I were honored to find out that we had won the sheep division of the judging competition. The conclusion of the competition was also the end of our time in Scotland as it was time to board the ferry for Ireland. Over the next week, we visited various cattle and sheep farms all across Ireland, each one detailing its operation and giving us an insight to agriculture in their country. A highlight of the trip came when we got to stay on a farm with a host family for two nights. While staying with our host family, we were able to experience first hand how their farming operation worked and were blessed with home-cooked, Irish meals.

Our trip to London, Scotland, and Ireland allowed us to gain an insight to a new culture,

international agriculture, and allowed us to broaden our horizons through this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Looking back, it all began when I took the first step to participate in the Livestock Evaluation Career Development Event. Following that decision

was the choice to stay committed to my teammates, and continually work towards our goal. Career Development Events offer multitudes of opportunities, if only you take the initial step and take advantage of them.

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In Their wordsUp close with your Missouri State FFA Officers

RHIAn BELDOn

RHIAN BELDONState Vice President, Area 3

Public speaking. Hearing those two words coming from my

advisor who said them a little too cheerfully had me trembling in my seat.

I had joined FFA, excited about being able to show my market lambs and that was all I really wanted to do. But my advisor had other plans, and he wanted me to give fall public speaking a try. He wanted me to speak in front of a group of people who I didn’t even know. He had to be crazy. I could barely say my name in front of my classmates without stuttering and turning red. There was no way I was going to give a speech.

So I came up with a plan. I was going to be “sick” on the day of the contest and my advisor would simply understand that I wouldn’t be able to deliver my speech. It was the perfect plan.

The day before the contest there was a snow storm and I

thought I was safe! Later that night there was a knock on our door and it was my advisor. He had come to my house to make sure I was ready for the contest the next day. I soon realized, there was no getting out of it. I grudgingly competed.

Afterward I realized how much I had enjoyed the competition and how I almost missed out on a great opportunity because I was too scared and thought that I wasn’t good enough. One of my favorite quotes from the movie A

Zoo is, “You know, sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage. Just literally 20 seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.”

Sometimes FFA members, all you need is that 20 seconds of insane courage and you never know what all you can accomplish and do. I challenge you to take every opportunity that comes your way. You got this!

SAM TURnER

“You’re not going to make it.” How many people have heard

this statement? As an individual, it hurts to know someone doesn’t have faith in you.

Growing up in a small town of just 2,000 people, everyone knew everyone. We were blessed with a tight-knit community where we all loved one thing—basketball. Having played in two state championships, my two buddies and I were supposed to take us back to the final four for the third year in a row. Unfortunately, though, that didn’t happen. We lost and I was forced with a decision that would change my life. I could either run for state FFA office or play another year of basketball. Two of my goals in life were to be a state FFA officer and to win a state championship in basketball. I talked to my two friends and they backed my decision regardless. They knew how bad I wanted to

become a state FFA officer, so I set out to achieve that goal.

A day later in the locker room, I was heading to class when I overheard my “best” friends talking about me. They said, “It’s not like he’s going to get it.” As I sat there and thought about what was just said it only motivated me to become a state officer even more. Two interviews later, I was standing on stage at the State FFA Convention being announced as the Area 16 State FFA Officer.

SAM TURNERState Vice President, Area 16

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Missouri’s major agriculture organizations are teaming up to sponsor the 2012-2013 video contest encouraging

FFA chapters to create a video or auto-play slide show with audio that conveys a positive message about the value

of Missouri agriculture.

POSTMARK DEADLINE: March 22, 2013

For more information call 573-893-1558 or online go to www.mofb.org (click on FFA video contest)

SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS:

Majors in Ag Business, Ag Science, Animal Science, Agronomy, Horticulture, Animal Science-pre-veterinary option, Ag Education and a two-year Farm Operations programLaptop computer and textbooks included in tuition

Be challenged. Be involved. Be noticed.Be successful. Be a Bearcat!

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

www.nwmissouri.edu/dept/ag

FFA members—others are going to doubt you, tell you that you can’t do something and not have faith in you. Fortunately, it’s not up to them. It’s up to you. You make your own decisions and it’s your choice whether you succeed or fail. Never let anyone get you down. You can do anything you set your mind to.

KEnnY SwOPE

“When you ride a bike and fall all you can do is get up, get back on,

put your feet on the petals, hands on the handle bars and go”. I love being outside. With a twin brother and three male cousins, we always found some kind of trouble to get ourselves into.

Growing up on the family farm we always had some means of transportation. From crawling to pedal tractor to bicycle with training wheels, I ultimately moved on to the bike without the trainig wheels. I remember the words my cousin DJ told me like it was yesterday as I

attempted to take my first true bike ride. “Put your hands on the handle bar, look up, put your feet on the pedals and just go”. I looked at him, smiled and did just that. I thought I was doing well so attempted the ramp at the end of the driveway. Needless to say, I wrecked and spent the night in the hospital. I didn’t want to get back on my bike. In a sense, I gave up and sold it, too afraid to get back up and try again. “Put your hands on the handle bar, look up, put your feet on the pedals and just go”.

FFA members this organization has many opportunities and roads you can travel down. When we

start our journey many of us have no idea where to start or where we even want to end up. That’s the joy of the FFA. We have no road map. I hope that each of you have many successes in this organization, but I think actor and comedian Bill Cosby said it best, “In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.”

FFA members, you will have failures but will you really let them get you down? You have to continue to accomplish your goals and remember, “When you ride a bike and fall all you can do is get up, get back on, put your feet on the pedals, hands on the handle bars, and go”.

KENNY SWOPEState Vice President, Area 6

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HYMAX Academy for High School Freshmen

The HYMAX Academy for outstanding high school freshmen aims to enhance a participant’s FFA experiences, career exploration and provide training in agriculture advocacy. This year’s conference is set for June 28-30 at Camp Rising Sun, Lake of the Ozarks.

The second annual HYMAX Academy for Out-standing High School Freshmen has been set for June 28-30 at State FFA Camp Rising Sun, Lake of the Ozarks, Kaiser, Mo. Focus for this year’s leadership conference will be on agricultural advocacy, career and personal development, leadership development opportunities in FFA and taking it home challenge.

HYMAX, Helping Youth Maximize their Agricul-tural eXperiences, is designed to prepare outstanding FFA Greenhands for continued success in their FFA experiences. A variety of workshops, hands-on experi-ences, industry presenters and tours will be part of the weekend event.

Conference participants are nominated by their FFA Advisors and students must submit applications for the conference.

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FFA CalendarMissouri FFA is on the move

MARCH2 College of the Ozarks FFA Workshop Point Lookout

7 Mineral Area College CDE’s Park Hills

7 MU Southwest Center CDE’s Mount Vernon

9 Mo. Youth Livestock Grading/Judging Contest Columbia

14 NCMC Ag Club CDE’s Trenton

21 Crowder College CDE’s Neosho

21 TRCC Contests Three Rivers

25 Northwest District FFA/Ag Sales CDE’s Monroe City

26 Northwest District FFA CDE’s Cameron

26 Southeast District Horse CDE’s Advance

APRIL2-3 Northwest District Ag CDE’s NWMSU, Maryville2 Central District Ag CDE’s UCM, Warrensburg2 South Central District FFA CDE’s Rolla3 Northeast District Ag CDE’s Columbia4 Central District FFA & Ag Sales CDE’s UCM, Warrensburg4 Southeast District Ag CDE’s SEMO, Cape Girardeau5 South Central District Ag CDE’s Rolla6 Southeast District Ag & FFA CDE’s CTCC, Cape Girardeau

APRIL6 Southwest District FFA CDE’s MSU, Springfield8-9 Southwest District Ag CDE’s MSU, Springfield18-19 Missouri State FFA Convention Columbia27 Missouri Trapshooters Assoc. State Tourney Linn Creek

MAY1 American Royal Market Steer DNA Validation DUE1 MU Interscholastic Events CDE Scholarship Application DUE1 Orscheln Scholarship Application DUE6 LEAD Conference Registration DUE10-11 South Central Regional Farm Fest Cabool15 MU Invitational Agri-Science Fair Columbia15 Public Speaking Academy Registration DUE15 State Fair Swine DNA Sample Submission DUE 28-31 LEAD Conference for Chapter Officers

JUnE3-7 Missouri AgriBusiness Academy Tour Springfield Area3-July 12 Missouri FFA Camp Rising Sun Lake of the Ozarks, Kaiser4-6 Public Speaking Academy UCM, Warrensburg21-22 Area Officer Institute FFA Camp Rising Sun, Kaiser28-30 HYMAX Academy FFA Camp Rising Sun, Kaiser

eDITOR’S NOTeMissouri FFA Today welcomes your comments,

chapter notes and story ideas. Send them to us at:joann.pipkin@att.net or call: 417.732.8552

P

SCHOLARSHIPEach year, FCS Financial honors the dedicated young men and women continuing their studies. We award up to thirty-five $1,000 scholarships to Missouri high school seniors whose parents or grandparents are current FCS Financial customers. Over the past seven years, nearly $265,000 has been provided to help our next generation with their education. The 2013 application is due March 1, 2013.*

*Scholarship applicants must meet all quali�cations in application to be eligible **Grant applicants must be a 4-H club or FFA chapter located in one of the 102 Missouri counties served by FCS Financial. Growing Relationships. Creating Opportunities. is a trademark of FCS Financial, ACA.

GRANTThe Shaping Rural Missouri grant program o�ered by FCS Financial provides local 4-H and FFA organizations $250 grants to implement projects that will bene�t their rural communities. Funds are awarded to assist club or chapter members in bringing positive change by establishing projects that make their local communities better places to live. Applications are due by April 15, 2013.**

Don’t miss your opportunity!Apply for an FCS Financial scholarship or grant today.

LEARN MOREVisit myfcs�nancial.com to learn more and apply for the 2013 FCS Financial Scholarship or Shaping Rural Missouri Grant.