January 23, 2012

Gov. Nixon and Director of Ag Honor Outstanding Educator during Governor's Conference on Agriculture

Dr. Terry Heiman received the Agricultural Educator of the Year Award

Dr. Terry Heiman received some high honors in front of hundreds of Missouri producers and agribusiness leaders during the 43rd Missouri Governor's Conference on Agriculture, hosted by Gov. Jay Nixon and the Missouri Department of Agriculture. During the awards banquet Saturday evening, Missouri's Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler recognized him with Missouri's Agricultural Educator of the Year honors.

"The men and women of Missouri agriculture, especially those educating our young people, are essential to the continued success of our state and our nation," said Director Hagler. "Dr. Terry Heiman has been an outstanding role model for young Missourians for many years, and it is important that we recognize his contributions to education in our state."

Life-long educator Dr. Terry Heiman received Missouri's Agricultural Educator of the Year award recognizing his career spanning more than five decades and impacting hundreds of thousands of lives. Dr. Heiman has served as a high school agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor, has led the agricultural education team at the University of Missouri and provided guidance for vocational education programs at the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Heiman was also recognized with the VIP Award during the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Ky. in 2011.

The Conference, which was held in Kansas City for the first time, concluded Saturday evening with a special performance by country music star Mark Chesnutt. Other special events during the three-day gathering included the Taste of AgriMissouri reception during which more than two dozen producers shared their Missouri-grown foods and beverages with attendees and the benefit auction supporting the FFA, 4-H, ALOT and AFA programs for youth and young professionals in agriculture.

For more information on the Governor's Conference on Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Agriculture, visit the Department online at http://www.mda.mo.gov.

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Note: A photo of Heiman is available online via the Department's Flickr stream at http://www.flickr.com/photos/moagriculture/sets/72157628999712673/ and on the Department's Facebook page.