Members and guests of the Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives Association will gather for continuing education, fellowship and fun at their 2011 state convention, Feb. 19-20. Held at the Courtyard Marriott hotel in Columbia, it will include the Missouri Master Farmer awards ceremony and roundtable program.

Established in 1969, the mission of the MYF/YFW Association is to promote the personal and professional growth of adults involved in agriculture. It is an integral part of adult agricultural education programs offered by local school districts throughout the state.

Ron Plain, MU Extension ag economist (far left) moderates a Master Farmer-Young Farmer Roundtable at a past Missouri Young Farmers convention. Serving on the panel were (from left): Tom Fenner, Sweet Springs farmer; Master Farmers Steve and Sharon Oetting, Concordia; and Derek Lowrey, Laredo farmer. This year's roundtable will be held Sunday morning, Feb. 20 in Columbia.

"We'll have educational workshops, guest speakers, the traditional toy and craft shows, and entertainment," says Lisa Evans, executive secretary of Missouri YF/YFW Association. "The workshop sessions will cover topics of interest to farmers, such as soil compaction solutions, water management, beef mineral supplements, and global warming issues."

The association is also planning a reception of past state YF/YFW officers to be held prior to the Saturday banquet. 

The Saturday evening banquet includes presentation of the 2010-11 Missouri Master Farmer Awards. This is the third annual award program coordinated by Missouri Ruralist and University of Missouri Extension. FCS Financial is the gold sponsor. The three recipients – Bill Masters of Cape Girardeau, Rick Rehmeier of Augusta and Greg Wade of Stewartsville -- will receive recognition, award plaques and $1,000 checks.

Sunday morning kicks off with vespers and breakfast. A preview of the 2011 National Young Farmer Education Association Institute, which will be hosted by the Missouri YF-YFW group, will be shared. This event is scheduled for Dec. 7-10 in Kansas City.

The Master Farmer-Young Farmer roundtable program follows the breakfast program, starting at 9:30 a.m. This educational discussion features the new Master Farmers fielding questions from a young farmer panel and the audience in a wide-ranging conversation. Topics of discussion last year ranged from management strategies, to adopting technology to recommendations on succession plans for bringing in a new generation of farmers.

FFA students speak up

Missouri YF/YFW will also host the second annual FFA speech contest at its convention. "Its purpose is to further develop leadership skills in Missouri FFA members and to promote a better understanding of adult agricultural education and YF/YFW members and their role in agricultural education," Evan says. The FFA speech contest theme is, "How does a Young Farmer/Young Farm Wives Chapter benefit an individual and a community?"

The speech contest is open to students, grades 9-12, who are enrolled in a local agricultural education class and are members in good standing of Missouri FFA. One person was selected from each of the six FFA districts to compete in the finals to be held at the state YF/YFW Convention in February. The six finalists are Aren Dameron, Crest Ridge FFA Chapter, Chilhowee; Kara Hambelton, Gainesville FFA Chapter; Emily Rice, Farmington FFA Chapter; Dustin Stanton, Centralia FFA Chapter; Caitlin Simpson, Skyline FFA Chapter, Urbana; and Haley Thompson, Chillicothe FFA Chapter, Ludlow.

FYI

For more information on the Missouri YF-YFW Convention, contact Lisa Evans at 573-751-8467 or e-mail her at [email protected].