SHOW NOTES

INTRODUCING COLE DIGGINS! 

From the moment that Cole Diggins picked up the telephone for our interview, I could tell that he was passionate about everything that he does.  I found out about Cole for today’s episode because of his success with his beef production supervised agricultural experience.  Success that took him to the highest levels of achievement at the state level, with a state proficiency award in Missouri.  And that success took him all the way to the national stage as a national proficiency finalist in 2017.

Cole has learned from his parents, and his father is emulating what we teach here on the show.  His dad has a contracting business that he uses to support his endeavors as a cattle rancher in Bronaugh, Missouri.

Cole is now a junior at the University of Missouri, and he is majoring in soil resource management.  In addition to his love of cattle, he has also developed a love for research.  He believes that a Ph.D in soil resource management will get him right where he wants to be – at the forefront of improving agriculture while still being able to work out in the fields.

Cole directly attributes his educational goals to his FFA advisor, Travis Wait.  He talks all about how Mr. Wait “pushed” him to achieve more than he thought was possible, and how that push is propelling him into graduate school very soon.

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Beef Production

HIGH SCHOOL: Bronaugh High School; Bronaugh, Missouri

MASCOT: Wild Cats

FFA ADVISOR: Travis Wait

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR COLE: Click on the picture below to be taken to the Bronaugh High School website:

Cole’s FFA Advisors’ Email Addresses: twait@bronaugh.k12.mo.us

Bronaugh High School’s Telephone Number:  417.922.3211

FFA LINKS:

National FFA Organization

Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE’s)

Support FFA 

Donate to FFA – One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start – pay it forward.

REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA:

• Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and insure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food.
• Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth.
• Farmers, ranchers and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store:

“The future of American agriculture depends on the involvement and investment in America’s youth, In order to prepare for the population of tomorrow, we need to encourage America’s youth today, and show that careers in agriculture are profitable, rewarding, and vital.”.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue

Where Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald Can Be Heard:

Member Of The National Association Of Farm Broadcasters