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Missouri FFA president follows family tradition

The new president of the Missouri FFA is carrying on a family tradition.  Colton Spencer from Aurora, Missouri is not the first in his family to serve as a state FFA officer.  Spencer’s sister served as a state FFA officer, but before that, his dad Jim Spencer was a state officer in 1985 and 86.  The younger Spencer could think of nothing better.

“It feels great,” said Colton Spencer, about walking a similar path as his father.  “I wouldn’t change it for the world.  He’s been a role model all my life and just to follow in his footsteps is something next to none.”

In addition to being Colton’s dad, Jim Spencer is also Colton’s FFA advisor.

“It’s pretty awesome,” says the elder Spencer about his son becoming a state FFA officer.  “It’s not something I ever told him he had to do or anything like that.  You want not just your own children, but you want your students in FFA to find their own way and their niche in our program as they go through.”

Jim Spencer believes there was more family inspiration involved than a son following his father.

“He had a little more motivation then me, probably, because his older sister was serving as a state officer about the time that he came in,” said Jim Spencer.

Colton Spencer is one of 16 state officers chosen at the 88^th Missouri FFA Convention in Columbia.

First vice president is Baileigh Horstmeier of Fulton, Missouri and the Secretary is Jacqueline Janorschke of St. Joseph, Missouri.

Area vice presidents:
Logan Korff, Norborne, Mo., Area 2.

Natalie Ayers, Green City, Mo., Area 3.

Nick Banze, Warrenton, Mo., Area 5.

Emily Lock, Carrollton, Mo., Area 6.

Hunter Lovewell, Sherwood, Mo., Area 7.

Katie Imhoff of California, Mo., Area 8.

Jessica Hylton, Avilla, Mo., Area 9.

Ashley Spear, Avilla, Mo., Area 10.

Jessie Peterson, Rockaway Beach, Mo., Area 12.

Heidi Murry, Plato, Mo., Area 13.

Macey Hurst, St. Thomas, Mo., Area 14.

Hunter Kay, Fredericktown, Mo., Area 15.

Moriah McLard, Essex, Mo., Area 16.

For the next year, the sixteen state officers lead the nearly 26,000 FFA members in Missouri.

AUDIO: Colton Spencer (4 min. MP3)

AUDIO: Jim Spencer (7 min. MP3)