Governor Kehoe honors Missouri FFA with a tractor ride to the Capitol

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – On behalf of more than 27,000 members of Missouri FFA, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe Mondy proclaimed Feb. 15-22, 2025, to be National FFA Week in Missouri.

Kehoe drove a John Deere tractor to the Capitol in honor of the FFA tradition of students driving their tractors to school during National FFA Week.

Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn, a fifth-generation farmer, joined in the tradition this year.

Missouri FFA Pres. Andi Belt from the North Shelby FFA Chapter received the FFA Week proclamation on behalf of the 2024-2025 Missouri FFA State Officer team.

“Agriculture is near and dear to my heart and our state’s leading economic driver,” Kehoe said. “As first-generation farmers, Claudia and I are proud to support Missouri FFA members and recognize National FFA Week. These students will take Missouri’s agriculture industry to new heights, and I am excited about what they will accomplish in the future.”

In 1928, 33 young men met at the Baltimore Hotel at Kansas City, Mo., and began the National Future Farmers of America Organization (FFA).

Today, the organization’s official name is the National FFA Organization, which, 97 years later, is represented by 9,235 FFA chapters and 1,027,173 members nationwide.

“This event is one of our favorites each year,” Chinn said. “I love spending the day with FFA members from across the state who are the future leaders in agriculture. It was fun to join Governor Kehoe today to celebrate this time-honored tradition to celebrate National FFA Week.”

Missouri FFA continues to help the next generation rise to meet the challenges of feeding a growing population. FFA allows members to develop their own unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of career pathways. Missouri is home to 365 chapters and more than 27,000 members, ranking eleventh nationally for membership.

“Career and technical student organizations like FFA are helping grow the leaders of tomorrow,” Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Karla Eslinger said. “FFA students participate in real-world learning opportunities and develop employability skills that business and industry partners want to see in the next generation of Missouri’s workforce.”

To learn more about the Missouri FFA Association, visit MissouriFFA.org.