Agriculture leaders in Missouri are developing an FFA leadership fund for the sole purpose of helping Missouri FFA members succeed. This worthy goal is to "reach additional members at the nearly 300 FFA chapters across the state, improve training for Missouri's national FFA participants and enhance global agricultural experiences for Missouri's FFA leaders." The volunteer effort combines the experience and talents of commodity organizations, education, agribusinesses and interested individuals. The more the merrier.

Initially, organizers hope to raise a million dollars over the course of 5 years. But they would gladly exceed that sum. Because this is a volunteer effort, there's no administrative overhead. Funds raised will help FFA members. To begin, that help will focus on proficiency award winners with the intent of honing interview skills and providing a worldview for the students.

As I've said before, MFA as a business and as an organization needs FFA. So does every agribusiness in the state. At MFA, we contribute generously every year to this wonderful group of young people. From our scholarship programs to our livestock programs to the state fair building fund, MFA is intricately involved with FFA. But again, ours isn't a selfless act. FFA benefits agriculture, the economy and the nation in general and MFA in particular.

At MFA, we're the recipients of so many of the organization's success stories that we're almost an extension of the organization. In fact, just over a year ago we did a quick, informal survey in-house and discovered we had working for us employees who had joined FFA during every decade reaching back to the 1950s. In fact, we discovered 111 former chapter officers, 16 district officers, 3 state officers and 6 advisors. In addition (just from this quick, informal survey), we counted a minimum of 102 FFA Chapter degree holders, 56 State degree holders and 10 American degree holders.

What impressed me also was that among the MFA Incorporated staff members who had been FFA members, we counted one MFA senior vice president, two vice presidents, numerous managers of MFA Agri Services Centers and MFA-affiliated locals, and a wide variety of young individuals in MFA's own leadership development programs. State FFA degree holders included sales managers, store managers, vice presidents and many others who help make MFA successful. As of last year, we also had at least 10 MFA employees who were recipients of the American FFA degree.

FFA was founded in Kansas City in 1928, has 476,732 members aged 12 to 21, and features 4,223 chapters. Collectively, FFA members earn $4 billion annually through their hands-on work experience. That last statistic does not surprise me. A large part of MFA's monetary donations supports the Star awards. All you have to do is look through the list of individuals honored as Stars, observe their projects and accomplishments, and be amazed.

These top-quality individuals have put enough innovation, ingenuity and hard work into their projects to earn the respect of even the most seasoned farmers and ranchers. I won't single out individuals since there are so many, but just a quick look will show you the innovation and business sense these young people have. As recognized during this year's state convention, one individual started with 10 acres as part of his supervised agricultural experience (SAE) project. He's now sharecropping 450. Consider a young woman who has expanded her beef herd to 80 head and is developing an embryo transfer program. These kids are representative of all the Star farmers. They are deserving of your support.

Just try to attend a state FFA convention and not smile. More difficult still is to stand in the midst of the convention and not be caught up in the youthful exuberance on display all around you. Few things in life are as inspiring as being surrounded by the energetic sense of youthful purpose. Toward the end of April, the FFA convention in Columbia exhibited all of that energy. FFA exists to provide that and more. My hat is off to Terry Heiman, Missouri FFA advisor, and Steve Brown, executive secretary of Missouri FFA. They do great things with today's young people and provide expert guidance.   

Remember back with me, if you would, to the official opening FFA ceremony. My favorite recited duties highlight the significance of FFA, today and well into the future. The treasurer says: I keep a record of receipts and disbursements just as Washington kept his farm accounts-carefully and accurately. I encourage thrift among the members and strive to build up our financial standing through savings and investments. George Washington was better able to serve his country because he was financially independent." The vice president: "The plow is the symbol of labor and tillage of the soil. Without labor, neither knowledge nor wisdom can accomplish much."

Those quotes encapsulate agriculture (and free enterprise) yesterday, today and tomorrow. That's why FFA is so deserving of our support. I urge you to contribute time or money or both. To donate or to learn more, write to the address provided by the Missouri Soybean Association: FFA Leadership Fund, 3337 Emerald Lane, P.O. Box 104778, Jefferson City, MO 65110, or call (573) 635-3819.