Missouri FFA organization forced to postpone, modify state convention to virtual model

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, state convention for Missouri FFA’ers looks quite a bit different this year.
  The convention, originally scheduled for April 23-24 in Columbia, has been postponed and will instead be delivered via a virtual platform, later in the summer.
  The Missouri State FFA officer team is currently deciding the best way to recognize achievements of individual Missouri FFA members, as well as entire chapters. Current state officers will remain in office until May when new members will take their place.
   “Due to the pandemic facing our state, nation and world, the tough decision was made to postpone our convention,” said Missouri FFA executive Secretary Keith Dietzschold. “We are weighing all options and in the meantime, we are moving ahead to recognize many of our outstanding members. To share this information, we will use Missouri FFA Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as missouriffa.org and the convention media website. Our No. 1 concern is your safety, and we are asking you to continue following guidelines set in place by our leaders.”
  Pierce City FFA Chapter member and Missouri FFA President, Brenden Kleiboeker,  said this year’s theme “HOME” has taken on a whole new meaning.
  “Nearly a year ago, the 2019-2020 state FFA officers chose the theme HOME for our year,” Kleiboeker said. “Though we all came from different corners of the state, we all found our home in the Missouri FFA Association. We all had different life experiences, different joys and different trials.  However, each and every one of us found our home in Missouri FFA. Little did we know that in the spring of 2020 HOME would have a much different meaning. This spring, nearly every one of nearly 26,000 Missouri FFA members is confined to their home. FFA members have never been ones to back down from a challenge.”
Kleiboeker went on to suggest that while members are asked to stay home, they could use the time to put extra work into their SAE (supervised agricultural experience) projects.
When asked what he thought of the postponement of the state convention, Miller High School FFA advisor, Lyle Whittaker, understood safety has to come first.
“I’m a member of the state Career Development Events committee and we are meeting this week and moving all contests to virtual. The state contest will take place Saturday, Aug. 29. It’s a sad situation that robs students of an in person experience, but given the current situation, student safety is priority. Our committee is working with the contest superintendent at the University of Missouri to work out all the details.”