A panel of judges selected Madison Meyer, of Dearborn, and Caleb Simpson, of Bolivar, as 2024 Missouri Farm Bureau (MOFB) Ambassadors during the organization’s 109th annual meeting at the Lake of the Ozarks.
The MOFB Ambassador Program selects a male and female student 17-to-22 years of age to represent agriculture and Farm Bureau for one year. Each Ambassador receives a $2,500 educational scholarship. Throughout 2024, the Ambassadors will represent Farm Bureau during a legislative trip to Washington, D.C., the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia and other events promoting agriculture.
Meyer represents Buchanan County Farm Bureau and is the daughter of John and Tiffany Meyer. The family is the third generation on their family row-crop farm and have been Farm Bureau members as long as Meyer can remember. She has worked on the farm and is currently a sophomore agriculture student at the University of Missouri. She is majoring in plant science and plans to work as an agronomist. While in school, Meyer is working part-time for MU Extension as a crop pathology student assistant. Recently awarded the American FFA Degree, she was Mid-Buchanan High School FFA chapter president her senior year. Now, she is involved in the Collegiate Farm Bureau, UMC College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Leadership Team and Veritas college ministry.
Simpson represents Polk County Farm Bureau and is the son of Alan and Sandy Simpson. He helps with the daily operations of his parents’ century farm when he can and also grows and sells his own hay on 13-acres. Simpson is currently a first-year student at the University of Missouri, majoring in agribusiness management and policy. He plans to obtain a law degree and work in Washington, D.C., in congressional government affairs with an agricultural group before coming home to start his own law practice. Simpson continues to be active in FFA as Missouri FFA state vice president but is involved in many campus organizations, such as Collegiate Farm Bureau and the Mizzou Agribusiness Management Club. His involvement continues with the Polk County Farm Bureau and the Cattlemen’s Association.
A total of 17 students competed in this year’s contest, which began in the morning with judges interviewing each contestant. That evening, six finalists broke into two panel discussion groups, taking questions from the judges and discussing them. The Ambassador program is sponsored by the MOFB Promotion and Education Committee. Scholarship funds come from the MOFB Foundation for Agriculture.
A photo of the 2024 Ambassadors is available via this link. For additional information or to set up an interview with the winners, contact Janet Adkison, Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy, at 573-893-1467.
