‘Ag Forward’ Wraps Up Another Academic Year With Legislative Discussion

The SFCC Agriculture Club hosted Ag Forward, the third in a series of ag-related seminars offered this year by Central Bank of Sedalia, on April 30 in the new Steve and Karen Ellebracht Agriculture and Mechanics building, a 60,000 square foot, $20 million facility on the State Fair campus.

There were three guest speakers invited this time, including Andy Clay, a seventh-generation farmer and vice president of Missouri Farm Bureau.

Clay owns and operates Clay Farms, which is a diversified agricultural operation featuring row crops, cover crops, and a mixed cow/calf herd. He manages all day-to-day farm operations, while his father oversees the family feed mill and chemical sales business. The Clay family continues to farm ground that was originally settled in 1816 along the Missouri River in Moniteau County.

In 2018, Clay was elected to the MOFB state board of directors to represent District 3.

In addition to his involvement in Missouri Corn, Missouri Soybean and Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Clay remains committed to supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders, according to the Farm Bureau.

The second guest speaker was Amie Breshears of Warsaw, MU Extension field specialist in ag business.

And the third speaker was State Rep. Brad Pollitt, R-52, who is currently running for Missouri State Senate District 28. Pollitt is also a cattle rancher.

About 60 people attended the event, now in its third year, which focused on new legislation and how it affects ag producers. Great Western Dining provided a fabulous meal for those in attendance. The meal was sponsored by Central Bank.

SFCC AG Club President Chezney Early spoke with KSIS following the event.

“We have a little over 30 kids in our Ag Club,” Early noted, many of whom attended last Thursday night’s Ag Forward program.

Early said she thought the program was great as well as the roundtable discussion.

“I think the interaction from the audience was great as well, with it going back & forth, with many giving advice and opinions,” she said.

Early noted that she is majoring in Ag Business and Digital Media.

“So after graduation, I plan to continue my livestock photography and videography business as well as drone aerial photography,” Early told KSIS.

She credited SFCC and the A-Plus program for her success.

“It’s nice when you don’t have to worry about paying for college. You have that A-Plus scholarship, and a bunch of other scholarships, especially coming through the Ag Building, there’s a Ewing-Potter Scholarship that allows you to get $2500, but then you also get to work on the farm and turn in hours and get paid in terms of that. So it’s been been like stress-free in terms of paying for college,” Early stated.

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She added that a two-year college like State fair fosters a tight-knit community among students. “You just have that close connection with teachers and other students,” Early said, proudly adding that she is a sophomore and graduates from SFCC in two weeks.