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A focus on future of MO ag: FFA star awards

Four FFA members were honored at the Missouri FFA Convention last week for mastering production, finance, management and research skills through their Supervised Agricultural Experience or SAE project.

Star Farmer Gage Swindler from Braymer operates a diversified livestock operation that features beef, swine and poultry.

“As you know, with egg prices these days with avian flu, all of that is kind of crazy. In a small community, I’m able to find lots of customers looking for farm fresh eggs. I can deliver those eggs to them when they need it and they appreciate that.”

The Star Placement McKenna Claborn from Silex plans to use the knowledge from holding several jobs to become an agronomist and help farmers improve irrigation.

“Farmers here in Silex and the state of Missouri are looking for ways to maximize their yield potentials and I want to bring back practices to help farmers in that area.”

Pakey Matthews from Fredericktown is the Star in Agribusiness and has a niche business.

“I have everything from mini cows and mini ship to tortoises, alligators, different lizards and amphibians. I breed them and lately, I’ve had enough orders that I’ve been ordering animals wholesale. I can’t keep up with demand.”

Addison Rogers from Pleasant Hope is the Star in Agriscience and her research has focused on motor oil performance and pipe durability in freezing conditions.

Brownfield’s interview with Gage Swindler.

Brownfield’s interview with McKenna Claborn.

Brownfield’s interview with Pakey Matthews.