Great Opportunities

Thursday through Saturday this past week was spent at the 2012 Missouri Governor's Conference on Agriculture.  This was such a great opportunity.  For the first time, I was able to meet with industry professionals outside of the context of searching for a prosperous career.  I saw the true emotions of farmers who had been flooded out in Northwest and Southeast Missouri this past year.  Industry professionals repeated the common fact of how, in the next 50 years, we need to produce as much food as we have in the past 1000 years.  This time though, they did not say it was a barrier for our industry but rather an opportunity to grow.

Friday night, I was able to model off the wonderful 4-H items for the Youth in Agriculture Auction.  I have officially sold my most expensive ham.  $2000 for the Missouri State Fair Grand Champion Ham made and exhibited by Logan, a Missouri 4-Her.  For more information, go to the Department of Ag's article.

Saturday evening I was asked to sit with the Missouri Department of Agriculture employees during dinner.  As soon as we were finished, I was handed a backstage pass to meet Mark Chesnutt.  This was very exciting for me.

I thank everyone who gave me such a warm welcome.  It was in those three days, I realized that I am headed into the greatest industry in the world.

Peace
Julia