Tummons of Columbia FFA Chapter named Area 4 Star in Agribusiness

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COLUMBIA, Mo., April 21, 2023 — The Missouri FFA Association recognized Samuel Tummons of the Columbia FFA Chapter as the Area 4 Star in Agribusiness at the 95th Missouri FFA Convention. His parents are John and Elizabeth Tummons of Columbia. His advisors are Austin DeHaven, Kevin Duncan, Taylor Howell, Matthew Praiswater, Jacob Rahmer and Sherie Rodekohr.

Area Stars in Agribusiness are selected based upon outstanding achievement in work experience in an agricultural business as part of a student’s supervised agricultural experience program and active participation in FFA. Area 4 includes 22 chapters in the Northeast District.

American Family Insurance sponsors the 16 area Star in Agribusiness awards as well as the State Star in Agribusiness Award.

Tummons has built a successful custom hay business as part of his SAE. He invested in a variety of equipment, including a pickup truck, flatbed trailer, and a new tractor, to make his business more efficient and profitable. Sam sells brome, orchard grass, cool season mix, and prairie hay to local farmers, helping to improve the feed quality of their livestock. In addition, he repairs and resells farm equipment and runs a landscaping business, employing other FFA members to work on local jobs.

Tummons has served as president of the Columbia FFA Chapter and the Area 4 Association. He earned a Group 1 rating in horse evaluation and selection, livestock evaluation, and farm management career development events, and was the top individual at the state competition for grasslands evaluation. The grasslands evaluation team placed fourth at the national competition. Tummons placed second at state in the 2021 extemporaneous public speaking leadership development event. He also was a participant in the Missouri Helping Youth Prepare for Excellence Academy.

In addition to FFA, Tummons is a member of the golf team and has been an officer in his local 4-H club. He is also a member of Community United Methodist Church.

After graduating high school, Tummons plans on attending the University of Missouri, Columbia, studying agricultural education.

The Missouri FFA has 26,716 members representing 356 chapters. The national organization has more than 850,000 members representing 8,995 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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