Photo Above: Kendra Elder of Bloomfield receives a certificate from Tony Anderson, Division Director with the Agriculture Business Division with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Elder was selected and participated in this summers Missouri Agribusiness Academy. The presentation was made in the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. (Missouri Department of Agriculture photo)
By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor
JEFFERSON CITY - A Stoddard County student is one of 30 of Missouri's high school sophomores join an elite group this summer at the Missouri Agribusiness Academy.
Kendra Elder, the daughter of Jerry and Pam Elder of Bloomfield, represented Southeast Missouri in the 2012 Missouri Agribusiness Academy. She is a sophomore at Bloomfield High School and an active member of the school’s FFA chapter, which is led by advisor Chad Upchurch.
The Missouri Agribusiness Academy is a hands-on agricultures career academy with students from throughout the state. Students were selected through a competitive interview process to meet with leaders from agribusinesses specializing in animal health, communications, sales and financial management in Columbia, St. Louis and Jefferson City.
"The Agribusiness Academy is an opportunity for bright young folks in our state to sit down with top leaders in agriculture, government and education to explore the many diverse opportunities ahead of them," said Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler. "Agriculture impacts every sector of our economy and every community in our great state. There is a bright future for young people in agriculture and it is vital that we attract the next generation of agricultural leaders."
The students gathered in Columbia to begin the week exploring the University of Missouri's College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. They traveled to St. Louis where they toured facilties and met ag leaders, and returned to Mid-Missouri Thursday. They ended their week in Jefferson City with a graduation ceremony at the State Capitol. Missouri's 2011 Ag Educator of the Year, Dr. Terry Heiman, gave the keynote address during the afternoon ceremony.
During the week, the students met with and worked alongside staff and leadership at Ad Farm, the Danforth Plant Science Center, Monsanto, the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Begin New Adventure Center at St. Patrick's Center. The 2012 MAbA class also toured St. Louis-area farmers' markets and urban gardens, including City Seed Urban Farm.
Since 1988, the Missouri Agribusiness Academy has awarded more than 700 academy memberships through a competitive application and interview process. The students represent more than 25 4-H clubs and FFA chapters from all regions of Missouri.
To be eligible for the Agribusiness Academy, students must come from a farming family or be an active member of the National FFA Organization or 4-H.
