POINT LOOKOUT, MO. —On Saturday, March 7, the College of the Ozarks Agriculture Department hosted its annual, national Future Farmers of America Workshop. High school students from all over Missouri and Arkansas attended the workshop, where the goal is to help local high school teachers educate their students with the knowledge needed in various agricultural career areas.

The workshop allowed our students a chance to showcase what they are learning in their classes and at the workstations. It served as a great hands-on opportunity for the students.

Preparations do not happen overnight but rather start in October the year prior to the event. Each workshop and contest has a professor or staff member who oversees that contest. Students from ag workstations prepare for the event as well. Cattle must be broken to lead, plants and insects must be collected and identified, and soil pits must be dug and interpreted.

The student workers and supervisors of the beef farm, hog farm, processing plant, agronomy, feed mill, dairy, and greenhouse/garden workstations collaborate to make the FFA Workshop a success. It is their efforts that allow College of the Ozarks to cultivate future leaders around the world, one student at a time.

“The Workshop provides a setting where students can learn and ask questions from experts in that field,” said Dr. Amanda Holder-Sage, agriculture department head. “It is important to the C of O community because it brings students (roughly 2200 high schoolers) from all over Missouri and Arkansas to campus for one event. While here on campus they can learn about C of O, majors offered, and the opportunity to graduate debt free. So it is a great recruiting opportunity for the college.”

More About the Agriculture Department at College of the Ozarks

The agriculture department offers majors in agriculture business, animal science, horticulture, agriculture education, agronomy, agriculture development, pre-veterinary, and wildlife conservation and management. With agriculture being a dynamic and diversified field, students are trained in the liberal arts as well as the scientific and practical components of agricultural production. The educational experience includes a strong academic program coupled with experiences in on-campus farm production, farm management, and industry internships.

The Work Education Program also provides students earning an agriculture degree with the opportunity to get real-world experience at one of the College’s operating farms. Students of the agriculture school produce products – including dairy, beef, fruit, and vegetables – to be used at The Keeter Center’s restaurant, student cafeteria, ice cream shop, and bakery.

For additional information, contact Public Relations Director Valorie Coleman at (417) 690-2212.