Missouri FFA News Releases

COLUMBIA , Mo. , April 17, 2008 - The Missouri FFA Association recognized Hannah Sandidge of the Marshall FFA Chapter as Area 6 Star Farmer at the 81^st Missouri FFA Convention. She is the daughter of Brent and Connie Sandidge of Marshall, Mo. Her advisors are Callie Dobbins, Randy Plattner and Jason Price. Her vocational director is Derek Lark.

Area Star Farmers are chosen based upon outstanding production agriculture for the student’s Supervised Agriculture Experience Program and active participation in FFA. Area 6 covers 18 chapters in the Central District.

MFA Inc., Columbia, sponsors the 16 Area Star Farmer awards.

Sandidge’s SAE program began with 139 acres of row crops: 111 acres of corn, 17 acres of soybeans and 11 acres of wheat. She also began her program with 1,024 head of swine, 116 of which were breeding stock, 394 feeder pigs and 514 market hogs. Her SAE program has grown to include 206 acres of row crops: 57 acres of corn, 123 acres of soybeans and 25 acres of wheat. She expanded to 4,751 head of swine with 242 head of breeding stock, 995 feeder pigs and 3,514 markets hogs. Her responsibilities include selling market hogs, caring for nursery pigs, feeding and assisting sows with the farrowing process and treating newborn pigs. In addition, she is responsible for keeping records on the swine production facility.

Sandidge served as chapter junior president, chapter vice president and chapter president. She has competed in the FFA Knowledge, Agronomy and Farm Management Career Development events. She was the Missouri FFA Grain Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award winner. She has participated in the Missouri Pork Association Youth Pork Institute, and she will serve as a 2009 Missouri Pork Ambassador.

Sandidge has been a member of the National Honor Society, Bird Cage and DECA. She also was the captain of the Marshall Color Guard for two years. She is a member of the YMCA and Farm Bureau, and she serves as the secretary of the Sunday school in her local church.

Sandidge plans to study agribusiness management at the University of Missouri . After college, she hopes to manage her family’s swine operation.

The Missouri FFA has 24,410 members representing 317 chapters. The national organization has more than 507,000 members representing 7,439 local chapters in 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands .

The FFA Mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

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