Sjostrand of Ashland FFA Chapter named Area 4 Star Farmer

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COLUMBIA, Mo., April 22, 2022 -The Missouri FFA Association recognized Nicole Austin Sjostrand of the Ashland FFA Chapter as the Area 4 Star Farmer at the 94th Missouri FFA Convention. Her parents are Jeanne and Brian Sjostrand. Her advisors are Rebekah Hammett and Justin Belew.

Area Star Farmers are chosen based upon outstanding production agriculture in the student’s supervised agricultural experience program and active participation in FFA. Area 4 includes 23 chapters in the Northeast District.

MFA, Inc., Columbia, sponsors the 16 area Star Farmer awards and the State Farmer Award.

Sjostrand’s SAE includes swine production placement and entrepreneurship, and poultry production. Her swine operation began with one show gilt, which she paid for by working on her parents’ operation. Sjostrand keeps back gilts in order to increase her number of pigs to breed and sell. She also expanded her poultry operation by purchasing 100 broilers to process and sell, in addition to 100 laying hens to collect and sell eggs from.

Sjostrand served as chapter president and Area 4 parliamentarian. She participated in the FFA knowledge leadership development event and poultry evaluation, horse evaluation, and veterinary science career development events. Sjostrand won the area poultry production proficiency award. She attended Helping Youth Maximize their Agricultural eXperience Academy, Helping Youth Prepare for Excellence Academy, Area Officer Institute, FFA Leadership Camp, and Lead, Educate, Advance, Develop Conference for Chapter Officers.  

In addition to FFA, Sjostrand is certified to teach “Agriculture Education on the Move” to elementary students. She also serves as a team leader teaching 10 sectors of agriculture to third grade students. In the past, Sjostrand also taught 5th grade students “Pig in the Classroom” curriculum sharing the differences in swine production and the production of other forms of livestock.

After graduating high school, Sjostrand’s plans include studying elementary education at State Fair Community College, Sedalia. She said she wants to continue to make an impact on youth through agriculture. She also plans to continue to expand her SAE from high school and be involved in the family swine operation.

The Missouri FFA has 25,626 members representing 353 chapters. The national organization has more than 735,000 members representing 8,817 chapters in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

The FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

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