Checkoff in Focus: Checking in on the Checkoff

Agriculture instructor and FFA Advisor Amanda Reid is a 21-year veteran teacher at the Concordia school district in #Agri-Ready Designated Lafayette County. Amanda has been utilizing partnerships with the Missouri Farmers Care Drive to Feed Kids and Agriculture on the Move (Ag Moves) programs to add value to the student experiences, leadership development and activities the Concordia FFA Chapter implements each year. These programs provide hands-on opportunities for FFA chapters and members who are "learning to do" and "living to serve" their communities. The successes of Amanda and the Concordia FFA chapter are proof of the power of partnership with Missouri Farmers Care. Agriculture Education on the Move program Drive to Feed Kids FFA Mini-Grants Concordia FFA Feature Blog & Photo Gallery https://www.facebook.com/MoFarmersCare   https://www.instagram.com/mofarmerscare/  

Grant Norfleet was recently elected to serve as the 2023-24 National FFA Secretary. Grant grew up on his family's livestock and row crop farm in #Agri-Ready Designated Audrain County, southwest of Mexico, Mo. As a youth, he enjoyed showing livestock through 4-H and FFA with his brother. He began his FFA career as a member of the Mexico FFA Chapter and was honored to serve as a Missouri FFA Association Vice-President in 2021-22. He is a senior at the University of Missouri studying Agriculture Education and Leadership. He is emphasizing communications in his studies with minors in agribusiness management and digital storytelling. Grant was elected as the National FFA Secretary during the 2023 National FFA Convention in the company of more than seventy thousand of his fellow members from across the nation. In this episode of Stand for Ag, Grant shares stories from his FFA journey. He shares his FFA beginnings, an unexpected win, hilarious memories, and the intense experience of contending for a national office. 2023-24 National FFA Officers https://www.facebook.com/MoFarmersCare   https://www.instagram.com/mofarmerscare/    

Get ready to meet Missouri's 2023 Leopold Conservation Award winner in this episode of Stand for Ag! The Leopold Conservation Award Program recognizes and celebrates extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation by agricultural landowners. This program shares the stories of conservation-minded farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners to inspire countless other landowners to embrace opportunities to improve soil health, water resources, and wildlife habitat on their working land. It also builds bridges between agriculture, government, environmental organizations, industry, and academia to advance the cause of environmental improvement on private land while helping the general public to understand the vital role private land owners can and do play in conservation. Missouri Farmers Care partners with the Sand County Foundation and American Farmland Trust to annually present this prestigious honor. Congratulations to Cope Grass Farm for being recognized as Missouri's 2023 Leopold Conservation Award winner! Cope Grass Farm is operated by Harry Cope and his wife Rose along with their children Sabrina and Dustin. Harry is the 5th generation of his family to farm their land located near Truxton, Missouri in #Agri-Ready Designated Montgomery County. The Copes grow limited row crops, continually work on timber stand improvement, and have diversified the forages in their pastures. All of these areas of the farm are utilized to grow grass-finished beef and lamb, acorn finished pork, and a variety of meat birds that the Copes sell direct to consumers at local farmers markets. Video: Cope Grass Farms News Release: Cope Grass Farms Blog: Cope Grass Farms Contact: Cope Grass Farms Shop Online: Cope Grass Farms More information about Missouri's Leopold Conservation Award https://www.facebook.com/MoFarmersCare   https://www.instagram.com/mofarmerscare/    

Missouri Farmers Care and our line-up of worthy programming is made possible thanks to the Power of Partnership. In today's episode, we'll introduce you to Don, Joe, and Davin who represent the Agri-Ready designated counties of Lafayette, Nodaway, and Moniteau, respectively. Not only do these three gentlemen have unique farm stories, they also represent organizations which are valuable partners of Missouri Farmers Care. Don Schlesselman, Chairman of the Board, MFA Incorporated (2:40) Don Schlesselman Photo Gallery and Blog MFA, Incorporated Joe Frueh, regional Farm Loan Officer at FCS Financial (5:54) Joe Frueh Photo Gallery and Blog FCS Financial Davin Althoff, Director of Marketing and Commodities at Missouri Farm Bureau (11:23) Althoff Family Photo Gallery and Blog Missouri Farm Bureau Federation https://www.facebook.com/MoFarmersCare   https://www.instagram.com/mofarmerscare/  

Get ready to meet three outstanding youth who are involved in Missouri agriculture. Reagan, Brayden, and Ray represent the Agri-Ready Designated Counties of St. Clair, Moniteau, and Dent respectively. Although each has a unique story to share about their 4-H and FFA projects and farm experiences, all three share a common bond as members of the 2023 Missouri Agribusiness Academy. Reagan O'Farrell, Appleton City (1:56), Reagan O'Farrell Gallery and Blogpost Brayden Hallford, California (5:58), Brayden Hallford, Gallery and Blogpost Ray Cunningham, Salem (9:08), Ray Cunningham Gallery and Blogpost Check out info on the Missouri Agribusiness Academy https://www.facebook.com/MoFarmersCare   https://www.instagram.com/mofarmerscare/      

Tune in as we wrap up our celebration of our Missouri FFA National champions. Emily Hoyt, a sophomore studying agriculture education at the University of Missouri, was named the national champion in the agricultural education proficiency award at the 95th National FFA Convention in Indiana.  Emily previously served as an Agriculture Education on the Move™ partner educator as a part of her SAE.

Join us as we continue celebrating our Missouri FFA National champions. Trenton Jones of Higginsville brought home the diversified horticulture national title from the 95th National FFA Convention. Trenton is a sophomore at Northwest Missouri State University majoring in agricultural media with a minor in agricultural communications. Trenton served as Missouri FFA state vice president last year and retired this past April. 

Missouri FFA represented the Show-Me state well this year at the 95th National FFA Convention. A team of four juniors from the North Shelby FFA chapter brought home the national title in agronomy this year. Join us as we chat with the team on what it took to win it all. The North Shelby FFA chapter has nearly 65 members. This year, North Shelby had three placing teams at the National FFA Convention: ag mechanics, agronomy and conduct of chapter meetings. 

Listen in on this webinar recording, hosted by Missouri Soybean Association, to check in on the checkoff. This bonus episode features a distinguished group of panelists diving into the checkoff from the farm level up to the USDA, offering producers a look into the backend.

Wine isn't usually the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Missouri, but the Show-Me state has a long, decorated history in the industry. Home to the first ever American Viticultural Area (AVA), designated wine grape-growing region in the United States distinguishable by geographic features, wine has been in our state since the 1840s. Join Alex Gast in this episode of Stand For Ag, prerecorded at the Missouri State Fair, as she joins Jim Anderson, the executive director of the Missouri Wine and Grape Board, to discuss the history and beauty of the Missouri wine industry. Jim Anderson has been the executive director of the Missouri Wine and Grape Board for nearly 25 years. With a bakcground in horticulture, Jim started out as the horticulture marketing specialist for the Department of Agriculture.