JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Agriculture has selected 30 high school sophomores to participate in the 2025 Missouri Agribusiness Academy. Selected students will spend a week in June in Kansas City exploring careers in agriculture, building leadership skills and learning more about farming, ranching and food production.
“The Missouri Agribusiness Academy is such a special program,” said Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. “These young people will be leaders in Missouri agriculture. It is important to show them all of the opportunities available as they begin to plan their futures.”
Since 1988, the Missouri Agribusiness Academy has awarded more than 1,000 academy opportunities through a competitive application and interview process for high school sophomores interested in pursuing agriculture-related college degrees and careers.
Students selected for the 2025 class are:
- Lucas Alexander, Seymour
- Hunter Aufdenberg, Burfordville
- Kierstin Bollinger, Jackson
- Blake Bonderer, Winston
- Isabella Compton, Washington
- Wyatt Copenhaver, Lexington
- Addison Counts, Warrensburg
- Blake Cozad, Bolivar
- Lillian Eddy, New Madrid
- Adelyn Hawkins, Appleton City
- Hailee Hein, Spickard
- Reid Hemry, Gallatin
- Keenan Kleiboeker, Stotts City
- Leah Kleinsorge, Middletown
- Peyson Larrick, Shelbina
- Briar Montgomery, Brookfield
- Sawyer Oesch, Princeton
- Hayleigh Parrett, Steelville
- Harley Pilkenton, Cuba
- Jace Pipkin, Republic
- Ava Porter, Dexter
- Emma Rieke, Linn
- Max Rost, Niangua
- Claire Salmon, Lowry City
- Addison Smith, Jackson
- Stetson Stone, Centralia
- Kate Strackeljahn, James
- Kayne Walters, Centralia
- Bailey Wheeler, Osceola
- Lexie Yingling, Joseph
Beyond the summer agribusiness tour, MAbA members will have the opportunity to participate in Missouri State Fair activities, a winter Legislative Day and the MAbA graduation ceremony at the 2026 Missouri FFA Convention.
For additional details about the 2025 Missouri Agribusiness Academy, as well as more information on the Department of Agriculture, please visit the Department online at Agriculture.Mo.Gov.