Verslues awarded Honorary State FFA Degree

MFA Incorporated CEO Ernie Verslues received an Honorary State FFA Degree on April 22 at the 94th Missouri FFA Convention in Columbia.

The highest honorary award presented by the organization, the degree recogniz­es individuals who advance agricultural education and provide outstanding service to the FFA program. The National FFA Board of Directors approved the nomination on behalf of Missouri’s 25,626 FFA members and 353 chapters.

In support of Missouri FFA, Verslues has personally assisted with various judging competitions and supervised agricultural experience (SAE) projects. Under his lead­ership, the MFA Charitable Foundation annually awards grants to local FFA chapters and, beginning in 2022, provides Missouri FFA with financial support for students’ SAE projects.

“I recognize the importance of providing educational and growth opportunities for our future leaders,” Verslues said. “No organization supports this effort better than FFA. That’s a point of pride in our organization, and one I try to consistently communicate in public and among staff.”

Those eligible to receive the Honorary FFA Degree include farmers; school administrators, faculty and staff; chapter advisors; business professionals and others who are making an extraordinary difference in the lives of agricultural students.