A

MISSOURI FFA TODAY

It’s a Family Thing Generations of tradition found at Missouri State Fair

Table of ContentsPAGE B The President’s Position

PAGE F State Officer Q&A

PAGE GFFA Calendar

Summer 2014

CONT’D ON PAGE C

Former North Harrison FFA member Sadie Kinne exhibits a heifer at the 2013 Missouri State Fair. Both sides of Sadie’s family are long-time State Fair exhibitors. —Photo submitted by the Kinne Family.

FAMILIES BUILD LEGACY BY JOANN PIPKIN, EDITOR

Their roots run deep at the Missouri State Fair. Generations of families have built a legacy of sorts

through their involvement with this annual showcase of Missouri agriculture. The Martin family, Centralia, as well as the Kinne and Gibson families, Harrison County, cite their memories of the Missouri State Fair as most treasured. It’s a time for tradition and a reunion of family, friends, fun and farming.

“The Missouri State Fair (MSF) holds many memories of blue and purple ribbons,” explains Miriam Martin, a 2013-14 Missouri state FFA officer whose family has exhibited at the state fair for three generations.

Martin says her dad, Phillip, and three brothers —Paul, Nathan and John Martin— and sister, Nancy Nelson, exhibited cattle, sheep and hogs at the fair beginning in the 1970s. Now, their children are active participants.

“I happened to grow up in an awesome community where most of the exhibitors from Centralia exhibited at the state fair,” explains Phillip Martin, who is the Meadville agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor. “We were like a big family. My best memory is that we didn’t just stick in one barn. We experienced the entire fair. We showed different species and we realized that the show wasn’t about us; it was so that people could come and experience the best of Missouri agriculture.”

For former ag education teacher and FFA advisor Keith Kinne, the Missouri State Fair is all about family.

While Keith’s father, Fina Jr., showed his first Shorthorn calf at the state fair in 1949, the father and son began exhibiting lambs there in 1971 and the family hasn’t missed a state fair since. Over the years, Keith’s

B

Missouri FFA Today • Joann Pipkin, Editor3674 S. State Hwy N • Republic, MO 65738

Email: joann.pipkin@att.netPhone: (417) 732-8552

Department of Elem. & Sec. Education P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102

Phone: (573) 751-3544.

District Supervisors: Leon Busdieker, Oscar Carter, Keith

Dietzschold, Lisa Evans & Steven RogersThe Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,

religion, gender, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. Inquiries related to Department programs and to the location of services, activities, and facilities that are accessible by persons with disabilities may be directed to the Jefferson State Office Building, Office of the General Counsel, Coordinator – Civil Rights Compliance (Title VI/Title IX/504/ADA/Age Act), 6th Floor, 205 Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City,

MO 65102-0480; telephone number 573-526-4757 or TTY 800-735-2966; fax number 573-522-4883; email civilrights@dese.mo.gov.

2013-14 State FFA OfficersArea Officer 1 Tanner Adkins West Nodaway

2 Taylor Washurn - Secretary North Harrison

3 Miriam Martin Meadville

4 Tessa Chambers Fayette

5 Mason Browning Monroe City

6 Abrea Mizer - President

Marshall

7 Alex Haun Holden

8 Dan Haynes Nichols Career Ctr

9 Connor Scott Miller

10 Mitchell Blehm - 1st V.P. Morrisville

11 Jonathan Bellis Aurora

12 Morgan Coday Seymour

13 Grant Talburt Dora

14 Jeremy Mathis Potosi

15 Rylyn Small East Prairie

16 Carlee Buckner Alton

4 Jaelyn Bergmann - Past Pres. Paris

BY ABREA MIZERSTATE FFA PRESIDENT

THE PRESIDENT’S POSITIONHow Will You Build Your House?

Last year around this time, I heard the story of “The

Carpenter.” Some of you may have heard this familiar story, and just like me, I’m sure it stuck with you. The story of the “The Carpenter” tells of a man who was about to retire from a long career of building houses. However, his boss asked him to build just one more house before he retired and the man agreed. As he built the house, it was easy to see that his heart wasn’t in it. He did a poor job putting the house together just so that he could get it finished. When the house was finished the man’s boss handed him the keys to the front door of the house. He told the man that this was a gift to him. The man was saddened. He thought to himself that if he had known that he was building his own house he would have tried much harder.

Often times we go through life giving it less than our best and not realizing what the results of our actions may be. Then one day we wake up and see that these are not the results we wished for, but at that point there’s no going back. Each day we are working toward

tomorrow. Every sport’s practice, homework assignment, practice FFA career development event, speaking contest, and class period help us improve to build a better tomorrow.

What if as advocates for agriculture, we gave it less than our best? What if we didn’t work for a better tomorrow? Where would this industry be in five, 10, 20 years? As agriculturalists we must work every day to improve and fight for this industry. We must stand strong because the future depends on us. It is our duty to help the next generation carry forward the traditions of this industry.

So FFA members, parents, advisors, agriculturalists, build the “house” that you would want to live in tomorrow. Build it wisely.

C

CONTINUED ON PAGE D

Missouri's John Deere Destination

Your Partner in Growing a Better Tomorrow. Visit us at www.sydenstrickers.com.

Authorized Dealer

10 locations to proudly serve you with reliable John Deere Equipment

GREAT

FINANCING

AVAILABLE!

It’s a Family ThingContinued from Page A

children—Zach, Shane and Sadie— have shown sheep, hogs and cattle.

The 2012 sheep shows at the MSF were dedicated to the Fina Kinne Jr. Family. “Grandpa and Grandma Kinne were very honored and thrilled to receive the award,” notes Sadie.

A former North Harrison FFA member and now ag education major at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Sadie says her family’s involvement at the fair doesn’t stop on dad’s side of the family. Her mom, the former Shelly Gibson, showed steers at the fair as soon as her brother got his driver’s license and could take them. And, the Gibson family hasn’t missed a Audrey, Joel and Miriam Martin of Centralia get ready to head to the showring

at the Missouri State Fair. They are among the third generation of Martin’s who exhibit their livestock at the fair. —Photo submitted by the Martin Family.

FIND US ONLINE!

AGRICULTUREis part of everything we do!AGRICULTUREAGRICULTURE

D D

It’s a Family ThingContinued from Page C

Prepare fora CareerNot Just a Job

Prepare fora CareerNot Just a Job

Top 1ofor Best

Community Colleges in the US (6 of 900, Bankrate.com)

Formerly Linn State Technical College

state fair since then either. Every grandchild on this side of the family has attended the state fair with their exhibiting family ever since being born, she says.

“We camp together, take care of our livestock together, cheer on cousins, attend concerts and

eat a lot of fair food together,” explains Shelly Kinne. “Long after the fair is over we reminisce at family gatherings of the good times had and plan and look forward to making more memories in the coming year.”

The state fair runs so deep in

the Kinne blood that Shane even married a former Missouri State Fair Queen—Whitney Wallace.

“Showing at the state fair was not just another show for the Kinne and Gibson families,” Sadie says. “It was a large family affair including grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles.”

Phillip Martin says the greatest moment for their family is when all three generations come together and line the ring of the barrow show, setting up lawn chairs at ringside.

“(The state fair) has taught us to be a better family,” he explains. “We have seen boyfriends and girlfriends, and new spouses arrive and we’ve taught them what we do. We have taught them to love the fair, not because they have to but because they want to.”

According to Martin’s niece, Katie Humphreys, the memories made while playing cards around a makeshift table in a hog pen or exploring the fairgrounds with friends were just as sweet as winning a market hog class or showing a grand champion Angus bull. “While I remember the purple ribbons and trophies, my richest memories are of the times I didn’t win.” Katie says. “Those moments when my animals were placed at the bottom of the class actually shaped my success the most. No, it doesn’t feel good to lose, but handling defeat fueled me to assess the outcome, correct my mistakes, focus on the details and, above all, keep competing.”

Humphreys says that while her role has now shifted from

E E

Missouri FFA Today: “2014 MFA Agronomy Guide” 63⁄4" x 41⁄2"Art director: Craig J. Weiland cweiland@mfa-inc.com

MFA Incorporated

Download it for iOS, Android or Kindle at www.mfa-inc.com/crops/agronomyguide.aspx

DEMAND

AGRONOMY GUIDE APPWITH THE NEW

DATA ON

MADE FOR AGRICULTURE

exhibitor to parent, she realizes just how much her parents gave of themselves in order for their family to have the opportunity to show livestock. “While the long days and hot weather are taxing, there’s no place I’d rather be those first couple of weeks in August than showing livestock amongst the company of family and friends at the Missouri State Fair.”

Shane Kinne adds, “Whether you become a farmer, run an agribusiness or work in the association world, networking and building relationships within agriculture is the key to success. There are 8-year-olds who participate in the state fair who have

a statewide network of contacts that some adults can’t rival. These are lifelong contacts that only benefit agriculture in our state.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Information compiled by Kelsey Forqueran.

Gibson family cousins (l-r) Kara (Gibson) Smith, Zach Kinne, Shane Kinne, Wyat Gibson, Sadie Kinne, Garren Gibson, Abbe Gibson and Kiley Gibson have attended the Missouri State Fair since birth. —Photo submitted by the Kinne Family.

F

GRANT TALBURT

GRANT TALBURTState Vice President, Area 13

OZARKS TECHNICALCOMMUNITY

COLLEGE

• Agriculture

• Construction

• Drafting&Design

• IndustrialMaintenance

• MachineTool

• Turf&LandscapeManagement

• Welding

AcceleratedtrainingprogramsareavailableandweacceptA+students!

www.otc.edu

FFA Chapter: Dora R-III

Hometown: Dora, Mo.

SAE: Lawn Turf Management

FFA Chapter: Potosi, Mo.

Hometown: I was born in Hanford, Calif., and moved to Potosi when I was 4 years old.

College/Major: University of Missouri-Columbia. Majoring in agriculture education.

Who is your hero and why?God is my hero because he

loved me so much he gave up his life for me. He helps me when I need help the most.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to become an FFA advisor at the secondary education level and a youth group leader.

What is something unique or interesting that few people know about you?

Something interesting about me is that I am a certified PADI diver, (scuba diver) and that I possess a boating license.

Advice to members: Never stop trying! My FFA

advisor always told me that

State Officer Q&AWho’s that underneath the blue corduroy?

JEREMY MATHIS

quitting is losing. When you don’t try at all, you lose. When you attempt to do something, you’re a winner. For example, when it’s time for CDE’s to roll around and you don’t try your hand at the event then you’re quitting, and therefore losing. If you compete in the event but don’t place you’re still a winner, if only for the fact that you tried.

In my first area officer interview, I bombed the interview and didn’t get the position. The next year when area officer interviews came around, I didn’t give up. I went through the interview process again, getting the area office and then the state office. Never give up.

JEREMY MATHISState Vice President, Area 14

G

FFA CalendarMissouri FFA is on the move

JUNE2-6 Missouri AgriBusiness Academy Tour—Kansas City Area

2-July 11 Missouri FFA Camp Rising Sun—Lake of the Ozarks, Kaiser

3-5 Public Speaking Academy—UCM, Warrensburg

13-14 Area Officer Institute—FFA Camp Rising Sun, Kaiser

20-22 HYMAX Academy—FFA Camp Rising Sun, Kaiser

JULY1 Missouri State Fair Livestock Entries DUE

21-24 Missouri ACTE Conference—Springfield

17-19 Gold Buckle Extravaganza—Ozark Empire Fair, Springfield

25-8/2 Ozark Empire Fair—Springfield

31 The Leadership Adventure—Columbia

AUGUST1 The Leadership Adventure—Springfield

7-17 Missouri State Fair—Sedalia

SAE: My Supervised Agricultural Experience is landscape management. I am employed by my church as a maintenance worker and also maintain two cemeteries owned by the church in addition to various other plots. Also, I own my own lawn care business and work for a couple other people in Potosi.

What is something unique or interesting that few people know about you?

Something unique about me is that when I was born I had two holes in my heart. When I was 18 months old I had open-heart surgery to fix that issue. I now have a 15-inch scar on my chest that reminds me every day how important and special every person is. At any moment anything could happen. It helped me value everyone’s worth.

Advice to FFA members: FFA is the water that grows

leaders. It grows self-confidence, it grows friends, and it grows family. A seed that refuses water can’t root and can’t grow into the beautiful flower it was meant to be. So, I challenge all FFA members to be open. Take advantage of the opportunities when they are presented and step out of your comfort zone. A wise man once told me that we can’t grow if we don’t step out of our boundaries. Be open to the new people you will meet and all the lessons you will learn. An open heart and an open mind will get you farther than you could have ever imagined.

www.myfcsfinancial.comwww.myfcsfinancial.com1.800.444.3276

Find an FCS Financial office near you:

Learning the

Ropes

Growing Relationships. Creating Opportunities. is a trademark of FCS Financial, ACA.

The Ag Youth Program at FCS Financial is part of our

commitment to Young, Beginning and Small Farmers. The growth and

success of agriculture in Missouri including the future producers is

important to us; as is guiding them through financial and educational

assistance. Contact our lending specialists today to learn more about

how we are investing in agriculture’s future.

aOpen to all Missouri 4-H and FFA members in counties served by FCS Financial.

aFunds available for qualifying 4-H and FFA projects

aRepayable within one year, interest free

aLearn how to keep good, accurate and complete project records