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McKinney urges FFA members, future ag leaders to find their “moon shot”

This year marks the 50^th anniversary of the first moon landing, and USDA Undersecretary for Trade Ted McKinney is encouraging FFA members to find their moon shot.

He says that could be finding ways to feed a growing population.

“I think one that we have to keep our eye on is the fact that we’re at 7.3 billion people on the planet now and we’re going toward 9 or 10 billion and we’re falling behind,” he says. “For whatever reason some technologies are rejected. But whatever it is I think they need to choose their moonshot and go for that.”

McKinney says the industry needs students to focus on issues facing agriculture.

“Whether they’re going to be a member of a school board someday or a father to their children or a government-elected representative or an appointee like myself or a CEO or a farmer – whatever it is, we need them advocating in the right way for agriculture and explaining why we do things that we do,” he says.

McKinney spoke to Brownfield at the 92^nd National FFA Convention in Indianapolis.

Audio: Ted McKinney