SHOW NOTES

INTRODUCING MIKARA ANDERSON! 

If you want to know who the elite, future agricultural leaders are you need not look any further than the American Star Finalists in the FFA.  In today’s episode I am lucky enough to profile Mikara Anderson.  She is a finalist for the award of American Star Farmer in 2020.

Mikara grew up on a small acreage in Pennsylvania.  Her ability to create a farming enterprise was much smaller in scope than some students who are from much larger farms.  Mikara knew this would be a challenge for her, and instead of looking around at what she did not have, she looked at what was available to her.

When Mikara assessed her resources she found something that was right in front of her…community.  She started reaching out to people in her community and region in the industry that she was interested in, sheep production.  Through the leveraging of other people’s knowledge and network she has been able to build a significant, multi-state sheep production business.

Throughout Mikara’s time in the FFA she has completed eleven supervised agricultural experiences.  And, she became her chapter’s president and ultimately the state president for Pennsylvania.  She sees herself serving in a leadership role for the Pennsylvania Department Of Agriculture in the future, and she is clearly capable of this!

Good luck Mikara!

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Sheep Production

HIGH SCHOOL: Southern Huntingdon County High School; Three Springs, Pennsylvania

MASCOT: Rockets

FFA ADVISOR: Cortney Booher

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR WILL MIKARA:

Click on the picture below to be taken to the Southern Huntingdon County High School Website:

Mikara’s FFA Advisor’s Email Address: cbooher@shcsd.org

Southern Huntingdon County High School Telephone Number: 814 447-5529

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