"I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds—achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.”

The opening to the FFA creed exemplifies today’s agriculture. Like those who came before them, today’s FFA members are skilled and talented. Despite growing up on a farm, I wasn’t a member of FFA. I’m not sure why. I certainly would have benefited. However, over the course of my career, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the organization. I’ve participated in local FFA meetings, in statewide meetings and, this year, in the national meeting in Louisville, Ky.

I was in Louisville to receive an Honorary American FFA degree along with three others from Missouri: Daryl Oldvader, the CEO of Farm Credit Services of Missouri; Tom Payne, dean of the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; and Frederick Worman, professor of agriculture at Central Missouri State University. Each one of us understood the prestige conferred by the gesture and appreciated the honor.

FFA, as an organization, does a tremendous amount of good for rural youth and for the development and progression of agriculture. Today, 75 years after its first national convention, FFA has almost half a million student members preparing for leadership careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture.

The organization has 7,308 local chapters in all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Its mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

We at MFA are committed to the organization. Each year we donate funds for awards, pins, plaques, certificates and other supplies. We’ve donated money and employee time for years. In addition, we donated a large sum for the recently completed FFA building at the fairgrounds in Sedalia.

Why do we support this organization? Simple. FFA does an excellent job developing the talents of rural youth. More to the point, we here at MFA, as an agribusiness, benefit greatly. We’re recipients of the organization’s success stories. We have so many FFA “graduates” working at MFA that we seem to be an extension of the organization. I’d be comfortable estimating that 50 percent of MFA employees were FFA members.

A quick, informal survey found MFA employees who joined FFA in the 1950s as well as employees who have joined in every decade since.

From that informal survey I discovered that today MFA Incorporated employs at least 111 former chapter officers, 16 district officers, 3 state officers and 6 advisors. Keep in mind that this is by no means a complete tally, just an informal survey. Additionally, MFA employs a minimum of 102 FFA Chapter degree holders, 56 State degree holders and 10 American degree holders. Add in several handfuls of award winners along with gold medal winners in everything from livestock judging to speaking contests to horsemanship and beef cattle proficiency.

If you really want to chart the career paths made possible in part by FFA as well as the organization’s effect on leadership training, consider former FFA members at MFA Incorporated include one senior vice president, two vice presidents, numerous managers of MFA Agri Services Centers as well as MFA locals, and a variety of young individuals in MFA’s own leadership development programs. State FFA degree holders include sales managers, store managers, vice presidents and many others who help make MFA successful.

The American FFA degree, billed as the ultimate challenge, is the highest level achievable by an FFA member. The recipients of the American FFA degree here at MFA include these 10 individuals (and most certainly many others): Rusty Anders, retail sales, Memphis Farmers Elevator; Trisha Beard, retail sales in southeast Missouri; Craig Childs, manager, Lexington MFA Agri Services Center; David Cope, livestock data specialist, Livestock Operations; Dr. Archie Devore, dairy specialist, southwest Missouri; Angie Doing, manager, Fair Grove branch of Dallas County Farmers Exchange; Carey Meyer, human resources assistant in Columbia; Don Mills, general manager of Producers Grain Cooperative #1 in El Dorado Springs; Teisha Mooneyham, inventory clerk, MFA Aurora Feed Mill; and Brad Toedebusch, assistant manager, Centralia MFA Agri Services Center. I’m sure there are other American, State and Chapter recipients we didn’t discover in this initial survey. I apologize to them for not listing their names.

But the point remains. FFA is an impressive entity. The young people it trains are the future of MFA, of agriculture and of the United States. Please join me in support of your local chapter and encourage young people to participate. All of us benefit.