Missouri Agribusiness Academy accepting applications

Dec 11, 2015

Deadline to submit applications is Monday, February 1st, 2016

High school students who are thinking about pursuing a career and/or education in agriculture are encouraged to apply to attend the 2016 Missouri Agribusiness Academy.

The academy gives the attendees opportunities to learn about the many different career avenues agriculture can provide them with. Scheduled to take place between June 6^th and 10^th, 2016, students will learn about the opportunities the Springfield area can provide for them.

“Spending a week surrounded by 29 of your agriculture peers from around the state is an experience our young people will never forget,” said Director of Agriculture Richard Fordyce. “These future leaders walk away with an increased knowledge and passion for agriculture, which is exactly what we need in order to ensure a bright future for our industry.”

According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, a majority of Missouri’s farms, 19,661 to be exact, are operated by people between 55 and 64 years old. Only 326 farms are operated by people 25 years old or younger.

30 students representing 4-H chapters, FFA chapters and farm families will be given the opportunity to attend, but must submit a written application that will require them to answer questions including what the biggest challenge is to Missouri agriculture and the role agriculture plays in society.

The Missouri Agribusiness Academy has provided students with the opportunities to explore agriculture careers and education since 1988, helping more than 800 students along the way. Those chosen to attend will be given a graduation ceremony at the Missouri State Capital in Jefferson City.

Join the discussion and tell us if you’re interested in a career in agriculture. If you are, visit AgCareers.com to find the kinds of career choices that await you!

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.