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Tractor rides kick off FFA celebration at Capitol

Governor Mike Parson this morning put a spotlight on National FFA Week celebrations in Jefferson City, driving from the mansion to the Capitol for a second year in a row, “Any time you can get out of the mansion and walk and get in a John Deere tractor and drive to the Capitol, it’s a fun day! Just to see 200+ students out there wearing those blue jackets, that’s the future of agriculture right there. It’s a big honor and what a great way to kick the day off.”

This year, Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe rode alongside Parson in his own tractor, “I haven’t driven a tractor to the Capitol to work since I’ve been in this position and to be welcomed by all those FFA kids, to see all those blue jackets, 207 of them are here today. What a feeling. It was fantastic!”

Missouri FFA President Brenden Kleiboecker of Stott City tells Brownfield it’s an honor that Missouri’s governor, lieutenant governor and Missouri Ag Director Chris Chinn, all farmers, welcomed the students to the Capitol where they held an ag career day in the hearing rooms.

“FFA is a leadership organization but if we don’t take that leadership into our future lives then it’s nearly meaningless so combining it with careers and showing FFA members how they can use the skills that they’ve gained in our organization, I feel, will be truly valuable for years to come,” Kleiboecker tells Brownfield, “They’re meeting with people from the Department of Conservation, MFA Incorporated, Sydenstricker and Nobbe. These people are taking time out of their day for our FFA members because they believe in them and the future they can bring to agriculture.”

University of Missouri CAFNR Dean Chris Daubert was among those who shared career paths with the FFA students. Kleiboecker is a student at the University of Missouri majoring in animal science.