Missouri State FFA President Recognized by Pettis County Commission

By Quentin Weed
UCM student and Townsquare Intern

On Thursday, October 16 at 9 a.m., the Pettis County Commission held a meeting at the Pettis County Courthouse, 415 South Ohio, to recognize Ivy Elwell for her election as the Missouri State FFA President for 2025-2026.

Commissioners Israel Baeza, Bill Taylor, and Mark Edwards lead the meeting, each giving a short speech about her achievements, presenting Elwell with a framed certificate, and taking pictures with her.

The framed certificate – which was read out loud by Bill Taylor during the meeting – stated:

“We are recognizing the Missouri State FFA President, Ivy Elwell. Whereas October 12th is officially nationally known as National Farmers Day, a day to recognize the central role of agriculture and those who lead and sustain it. And whereas Ivy Elwell of La Monte, Missouri, has brought the station to Pettis County through her election as a 2025-2026 Missouri State FFA President, representing thousands of students across the state in agriculture, education, and leadership. And whereas Ivy has demonstrated excellence through her supervised agriculture experience, including showing quarter horses, Berkshire market hogs, as well as her entrepreneurship through her small business, the Crafty Camel. And whereas Ivy has given generously of her time, talents, and services to the community, including her volunteer work at the Lamont Food Pantry and Pettis County Mobile Food Pantry. And whereas Ivy embodies the values of hard work, leadership, and service both the FFA and the farming community uphold, serving as a role model for the young people throughout Pettis County and the state of Missouri. Now, therefore, we, the commission of the county of Pettis, do hereby formally recognize and commend Ivy Elwell for her remarkable accomplishments and steadfast leadership. In honoring Ivy on this National Farmers Day, we affirm the pride of Pettis County and her achievements, acknowledge the inspiration she provides to her peers and community, and extend to her our full confidence as she represents Missouri FFA across the state and nation. Her dedication to agriculture, education, and service reflects the highest values of our county, and her example strengthens the future of both farming and community life.”

The first Missouri FFA President from Pettis County, Elwell has seen Missouri become the number one ranked state for American FFA degrees under her leadership. In her capacity as president, she has traveled across Missouri and to Washington D.C. in an effort to share her and her community’s agricultural story.

Elwell says that as president she has “had the opportunity to meet people from all across the state, whether it’s from the boot heel to the tip top of the state, and it’s always interesting to come back and see what the members of Pettis County are doing here in our home county.”

Elwell has had plenty of involvement with the community – something she was recognized for – when working on things like the Missouri State Fair, FFA Camp, Packing for a Purpose, and more.

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The daughter of Jessie and Brad Elwell, Elwell is “proud to represent the small school life” that she came from. She said that she applied for the position in spring and found out that she was elected at the last state convention.

About her recognition, Elwell said that it was “quite the honor,” but felt that she shouldn’t “be recognized because I’ve always said that I’m here for the FFA members, I’m here to serve them.”

Elwell and her team will be attending the American FFA national convention in Indianapolis in the coming weeks to represent the 26,000 FFA members from Missouri.