FFA students get hands-on experience in judging livestock with the use of the College’s animals. An FFA student gets the opportunity to physically touch and judge the meat quality of poultry.

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. —On March 2, 2024, College of the Ozark’s agriculture department hosted its annual National FFA Organization Workshop. High school students from all over Missouri and Arkansas attended the workshop.

This workshop is an opportunity for high school FFA students to develop their critical thinking and leadership skills while sharpening their contest abilities. Throughout the workshop, C of O students shared the knowledge and skills they have gained through their education and work experiences on campus. C of O students also served as judges and proctors for the events. The goal was to create an interactive experience that would teach practical skills and challenge the FFA students’ knowledge. They participated in a variety of workshops and contests such as floriculture, farm management, agronomy, nursery/landscaping, entomology, meats, public speaking, horse judging, dairy cattle, dairy foods, livestock judging, forestry, soils, and poultry.

The student workers and supervisors of the beef farm, hog farm, processing plant, agronomy, feed mill, dairy, and greenhouse/garden workstations collaborated to make the FFA Workshop successful.

“It takes so much support from the entire department to set up an event of this size,” said Ashlin Usrey, senior animal science major. “Communication is key to making sure that everything is getting done. Each contest supervisor has to come up with the exam for the year, and we have to prepare each packet for each school. There are so many that work behind the scenes on campus getting soil pits dug, signs hung up, and location cleaned for the workshop. Many help from off campus, getting supplies for contests, running scantrons the day of, and running workshops and we could not do it without them.”   

“The FFA workshop provides an opportunity for FFA members to engage and learn about the contest of their interest,” said Jena Schwartze, senior agronomy major. “In most of the contests, students get hands-on learning to help them better prepare themselves for the real contest in the future. Outside the FFA realm, the workshop also exposes students to the opportunities that C of O offers for college students.”

“With only one percent of the population involved in production agriculture it is important to teach people about it,” said Tammy holder, general farm manager. “People need to know where their food comes from and the hard work, science and technology involved in producing it. Student involvement in agriculture also helps connect them with nature, food, and a community they otherwise may never have the opportunity to experience.”

“The FFA students are the future,” said Adam Kimrey, processing plant supervisor. “It is our job to teach them. Today, farmers are an older generation and to keep our country thriving we need to pass on as much information to the younger generation as we can.”

Academic advisors and current students were available during the FFA Workshop to discuss the College’s agriculture program. The agriculture department offers majors in agriculture business, animal science, horticulture, agriculture education, agronomy, agriculture development, pre-vet, and wildlife conservation and management.