Young farmers from across the nation will be traveling to Missouri in early December for the 45th National Young Farmer Educational Association Institute. Set for Dec. 7-10 in Kansas City, the event will follow a theme of "Good Tours, Good Food and Good Fellowship."

All those involved in agriculture are invited. A hearty, "Taste of the Heartland" reception will kick off the NYFEA Institute on Wednesday evening, Dec. 7. The Missouri Department of Agriculture will sponsor the reception. The hotel headquarters is the Holiday Inn Southeast, across from the Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City.

The Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives Association is hosting the 2011 NYFEA Institute. It is an agricultural education and leadership organization for farmers and farm supporters of all ages. Members of its planning committee have spent almost two years preparing and coordinating efforts with the NYFEA staff.

Suzi Beck, MYF-YFW member from Chillicothe, Mo., says the committee has worked especially hard on putting together the agricultural tours, scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 8, and Friday, Dec. 9 in northwest and west-central Missouri.  

"This is really an opportunity to showcase Missouri agriculture," Beck says. "There will be a variety of agricultural tour stops. These tours always have a way of bringing people together to exchange ideas and discover what they have in common. It's the fellowship that really makes an event like this worthwhile."  

The 2011 NYFEA Institute offers several educational sessions for ag producers, the Young Ag Leaders Event, an agricultural communicators contest, a FFA Speech Contest, and nightly entertainment.

Master Farmers unite

The new 2011-12 class of Missouri Master Farmers will be recognized at the 2011 NYFEA Institute on Saturday, Dec. 10, in Kansas City. The Missouri Master Farmers will participate in an educational roundtable discussion with young farmers on Saturday morning. They will be honored at NYFEA's John Deere Award Banquet on Saturday evening.

In addition, members of a brand new organization, Master Farmers of America, have been invited. They will participate in the agricultural tours and gather at a reception, sponsored by Farm Progress Companies, on Friday evening, Dec. 9.

"We hope to facilitate networking of Master Farmers from across the country," says Frank Holdmeyer, executive editor, Farm Progress Midwest publications. "It should be a great opportunity to share ideas and concerns among this elite group of farmers."

Recognized as the nation's longest running farmer award, the Master Farmer Award is considered one of the most prestigious honors a farm family can receive. No more than four or five awards are given in any one state in a given year. Farm Progress publications currently sponsor Master Farmer awards programs in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, North and South Dakota, Wisconsin, and the northeastern region of  Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and West Virginia.

FYI

For the complete NYFEA Institute schedule of events, ag tour descriptions, hotel and registration details, visit the website, www.2011nyfeashowmemo.com,  or call Lisa Evans at 573-751-8467. The early registration deadline is Nov. 1.

Show Me the Heartland Ag Tour Stops

Dec. 8 Tour

Shatto Dairy, Osborn

Pony Express Museum & Pikes Peak Stables, St. Joseph

Lifeline Foods, St. Joseph

Lost Creek Wind Energy Farm, King City

Wade Farms, Stewartsville

Dec. 9 Tour 

Bayer Corp. Research and Development Center, Kansas City

Show Me Energy Cooperative plant, Centerview

John Deere dealership, Centerview

Weigand Grain & Livestock, Warrensburg

Whiteman Air Force Base, Knob Noster