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Growing the Future of Agriculture

At Mid-Missouri Bank, we believe that supporting the future of agriculture begins with investing in today’s students. Agriculture is the backbone of our local economies and communities, and it’s essential that the next generation has opportunities to learn, explore, and lead within this vital industry.

That’s why this fall, we partnered with three sale barns across Southwest Missouri for the Mid-Missouri Ag Education Initiative. This program is designed to give local high school students hands-on experience in agriculture, connecting them with mentors, industry professionals, and real-world learning opportunities they might not have otherwise.

Together, we’re helping shape the next generation of agricultural leaders – and strengthening the future of our communities along the way.

Mid-Missouri Stockyards – Phillipsburg, MO

Our first and largest event of the season took place at the Mid-Missouri Stockyards in Phillipsburg, Missouri. We welcomed more than 200 students from area schools and organizations, including Lebanon, Marshfield, Conway, Stoutland, Skyline, Joel E. Barber, MU Extension in Laclede County, and local homeschool families. More than 80 mentors also took time out of their schedules to invest in these students.

Before the event, our team visited classrooms to introduce students to the auction and bidding process, helping them understand the strategies and decision-making involved. This preparation ensured they could make the most of their hands-on experience at the Stockyards.

Students rotated through five interactive learning stations, exploring agriculture from multiple perspectives:

• Touring the sale barn and learning about livestock operations
• Roping alongside experienced ranchers
• Hearing from a local veterinarian and performing a pregnancy check on a cow
• Exploring carcass quality grading and learning how meat marbling and maturity affect value
• Hearing from an expert on artificial insemination and technology in the ag industry

After the stations, students enjoyed lunch provided by the sale barn and participated in a live mock auction, where they used “money” to bid on cattle. With real animals brought through the ring and an auctioneer calling the bids, the experience taught valuable lessons in strategy, decision-making, and profitability. The top three most profitable students even took home cash prizes.

View event highlights on Facebook. 

Joplin Regional Stockyards – Joplin, MO

The second Ag Education event was held at the Joplin Regional Stockyards, welcoming students from Joplin, Mt. Vernon, Miller, Carthage, Neosho, and Sarcoxie.

Students rotated through three interactive stations:

• Touring the sale barn and learning how the cattle are processed
• Practicing roping techniques
• Hearing from a veterinarian about performing pregnancy checks and examining teeth to determine age

Each rotation emphasized the importance of hands-on learning and teamwork, giving students practical experience in the agriculture industry.

Like in Phillipsburg, the day concluded with lunch provided by the Cattlemen’s Association and a mock cattle auction, where students applied what they learned in a fun, engaging way.

Watch the recap reel on Facebook. 

Springfield Livestock Marketing Center – Springfield, MO

Our third and final event took place at the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, with students from Republic, Willard, Miller, and Ash Grove.

This event combined traditional livestock education with modern technology. Students rotated between three stations:

• Touring the sale barn and learning how cattle move through the ring and how the scales operate
• Hearing from a local veterinarian and observing how cattle chutes operate, including how to perform a pregnancy check
• Learning about the use of drones in fertilizer and pesticide applications — even flying a drone themselves and watching a larger model in action

Students also had the opportunity to hear from Former Missouri Governor Mike Parson, who spoke about the future of agriculture and the importance of ag education. His message reinforced the purpose of these events and highlighted the vast opportunities within the ag industry.

The day concluded with lunch grilled by MidMo Bank and another mock cattle auction, where students once again experienced the excitement of bidding and testing their profitability strategies.

See more from the Springfield event on Facebook. 

Connecting Communities Through Education

The Mid-Missouri Ag Education Initiative is about more than a single day of learning – it’s about connecting our communities, fostering curiosity, and equipping students with the tools to pursue meaningful futures in agriculture. By bringing together local businesses, educators, and industry professionals, we’re helping ensure that agriculture remains strong for generations to come.

Looking Ahead

We’re excited to continue growing the Mid-Missouri Ag Education Initiative in the years ahead. Each event strengthens our communities, builds relationships, and reminds us why agriculture truly is the heart of Missouri.

At Mid-Missouri Bank, we’re proud to invest in the next generation of ag leaders – because when our students grow, our communities thrive.

If you would like to get involved in one of our events, please reach out to [email protected].