News Release

Thirty high school sophomores were recently selected to participate in the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Missouri Agribusiness Academy (MAbA). Students selected will spend the first week of June in the St. Louis region exploring various facets of agriculture.

“We are proud to announce another outstanding MAbA class. Our young people in agriculture set the bar high and model respect, determination, responsibility and service—values we in the industry strive to instill along with farming traditions,” said Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. “MAbA empowers students to further develop those leadership skills and use them to enhance the future of Missouri agriculture and our rural communities.” 

Students selected for the 2018 class are:

• Hailey Schepers, California, Mo.
• Ellie Coppock, Eldon, Mo.
• Kaylee Lower, Collins, Mo.
• Miles Bailey, Clinton, Mo.
• Justin Austin, Appleton City, Mo.
• Parker Triplett, Rutledge, Mo.
• Katie Campbell, Memphis, Mo.
• Clint Bailey, Curryville, Mo.
• Lucy Schnitker, Middletown, Mo.
• Linsey Brady, Fayette, Mo.
• Sally Schmidt, Carrollton, Mo.
• Anderson Rogers, Bethany, Mo.
• Brooklyn Bennett, Bolckow, Mo.
• Garrett Heil, Norborne, Mo.
• Maryanna Milazzo, Galt, Mo.
• Hannah Hoelscher, Warrenton, Mo.
• Paul Boeckmann, Loose Creek, Mo.
• Madison Coleman, Rhineland, Mo.
• William Lee, Truxton, Mo.
• Nicole Deeken, Loose Creek, Mo.
• Ricanna Spargo, Naylor, Mo.
• Katelyn Young, Arcadia, Mo.
• Aaron Brown, Jackson, Mo.
• Elizabeth Mooney, Fredericktown, Mo.
• Brittany Ladd, Farmington, Mo.
• Kaitlyn Cloud, Carthage, Mo.
• Cade Shepherd, Mount Vernon, Mo.
• Lauren Gilbert, Oldfield, Mo.
• Jacob Toombs, Bolivar, Mo.
• Lauren Ford, Stockton, Mo.
   

On Monday, June 4, the MAbA class will convene at the Missouri Department of Agriculture. After a department overview and tour, the students will travel to St. Louis. During the 2018 Missouri Agribusiness Academy, the students will visit businesses and learn about career opportunities in animal and plant health, communications, forestry, value-added agriculture production and more. The students will end their week with a graduation ceremony at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City.

Since 1988, the Missouri Agribusiness Academy has awarded more than 900 academy memberships through a competitive application and interview process for high school sophomores interested in pursuing agriculture-related college degrees and careers.

To be eligible for the Agribusiness Academy, students must come from a farming family or be an active member of the National FFA Organization or 4-H.

For additional details about the 2018 Missouri Agribusiness Academy, as well as more information on the Department of Agriculture, please visit the department online at Agriculture.Mo.Gov.

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