The Western Farm Show, CASE IH, and the American Royal are partnering to offer leadership and career preparation sessions for Kansas and Missouri FFA members on Feb. 24.
Also Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn will also present to FFA students at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 23.
Chris Chinn, a fifth-generation Missouri farmer from Clarence, was named director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture in January 2017. Director Chinn has held leadership positions in agriculture on the local, state and national level for more than 18 years, working to move the state’s agriculture industry forward.
As a trailblazer in ag advocacy, Chinn has established her brand through social media and public speaking. Her blog and Twitter audiences have attracted more than 10,000 faithful followers who have tuned in to hear her farm story. Through her outreach, she stands up for both rural and urban Missouri by bridging the gap between farmers and consumers and contributes to the advancement of the state’s top economic driver.
As director of Agriculture, Chinn created the MORE Strategic Initiative to protect and promote Missouri’s agriculture industry. The four pillars of the initiative are Grow MORE, Reach MORE, Connect MORE and Empower MORE, tying into the needs of farmers and consumers in Missouri. She also works closely with Gov. Mike Parson and fellow cabinet members.
Chinn resides on her family’s farm in Shelby County, with her husband, Kevin, where she helps manage their 1,600 sow farrow-to-finish hog operation, as well as their family feed mill. Chinn and her husband also have a small cow-calf herd, as well as raise corn, soybean and hay. They have two children, Rachelle and Conner, who are both involved in production agriculture.
The show is an opportunity to reach students from across the two states while they are here at the American Royal Complex.
- Exploring technology and innovation will be the focus of the 30-minute leadership sessions beginning at 9:30 a.m. in Wagstaff Theatre.
- To learn more contact Nathan Laudan, director of education, at [email protected] or visit: http://www.americanroyal.com/educational-programming/leadership-day/
- Students can register to win prizes throughout the morning based on their participation in sessions and activities. “Unite Against Hunger” is the FFA canned and nonperishable food drive in support of the National FFA Week and FFA Day at the Show. Each chapter that brings in a minimum of 200 canned and nonperishable food items will qualify for a drawing. One winner from each state and award them with a $1,000 check to be solely used for educational purposes for the good of the chapter.
- FFA Day is sponsored by CASE IH.
- Farm Equipment Career Development Event is a competition between FFA students to test their knowledge and skills on Identification, Electrical and Precision components About180 students compete in teams of four during FFA Day which is Feb. 23.
- There are two sessions: 9 to 11 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- The winning team receives $1,000, sponsored by BTC Bank, for their school’s FFA Chapter needs.
