Missouri Agribusiness Academy logo

About the Missouri Agribusiness Academy

Agriculture has a tremendous impact on our nation’s economy, and Missouri is at the heart of this industry. It is important that young people carry on the tradition and heritage of those who have made this state the agricultural leader it is today and develop the skills necessary to continue that legacy in the future.

Since 1988, the Missouri Agribusiness Academy (MAbA) has awarded 1,110 academy memberships through a competitive application and interview process. To be eligible for the Missouri Agribusiness Academy, students must come from a farming family or be an active member of FFA or 4-H. The 2025 MAbA class will tour agribusinesses, explore educational opportunities, and meet with agricultural leaders in the Kansas City area June 2-6, 2025.

Congratulations to the Missouri Agribusiness Academy Class of 2025!

Additional photos of previous Missouri Agribusiness Academy tours are available on the Department’s Flickr stream, online at flickr.com/moagriculture.

Northeast Distict

  • Image of Leah Kleinsorge

    Leah Kleinsorge

  • Image of Peyson Larrick

    Peyson Larrick

  • Image of Briar Montgomery

    Briar Montgomery

  • Image of Stetson Stone

    Stetson Stone

  • Image of Kayne Walters

    Kayne Walters

Central Distict

  • Image of Wyatt Copenhaver

    Wyatt Copenhaver

  • Image of Addison Counts

    Addison Counts

  • Image of Adelyn	Hawkins

    Adelyn Hawkins

  • Image of Claire Salmon

    Claire Salmon

  • Image of Bailey Wheeler

    Bailey Wheeler

Southeast Distict

  • Image of Hunter Aufdenberg

    Hunter Aufdenberg

  • Image of Kierstin Bollinger

    Kierstin Bollinger

  • Image of Lillian Eddy

    Lillian Eddy

  • Image of Ava Porter

    Ava Porter

  • Image of Addison Smith

    Addison Smith

Southwest Distict

  • Image of Lucas Alexander

    Lucas Alexander

  • Image of Blake Cozad

    Blake Cozad

  • Image of Keenan Kleiboeker

    Keenan Kleiboeker

  • Image of Jace Pipkin

    Jace Pipkin

  • Image of Max Rost

    Max Rost

South Central Distict

  • Image of Isabella Compton

    Isabella Compton

  • Image of Hayleigh Parrett

    Hayleigh Parrett

  • Image of Harley Pilkenton

    Harley Pilkenton

  • Image of Emma Rieke

    Emma Rieke

  • Image of Kate Strackeljahn

    Kate Strackeljahn

Northwest Distict

  • Image of Blake Bonderer

    Blake Bonderer

  • Image of Hailee Hein

    Hailee Hein

  • Image of Reid Hemry

    Reid Hemry

  • Image of Sawyer Oesch

    Sawyer Oesch

  • Image of Lexie Yingling

    Lexie Yingling

Missouri Agribusiness Academy District Map

2025 MAbA Class - Calendar of Events

MAbA Tour Missouri State Fair Session Winter Session Graduation
June 2-6, 2025 August 14, 2025 FFA Week
February 2026*
State FFA Convention
April 2026*
Kansas City, MO Sedalia, MO Jefferson City, MO Columbia, MO

*Date and time to be determined closer to date

For questions about the Missouri Agribusiness Academy or the application process, please email maba@mda.mo.gov or call (573) 751-8187.

About the Application Process

Applicants will be sorted into six geographical regions and five students from each region will attend the Missouri Agribusiness Academy. The applicant’s region is determined by the county of their high school’s physical location. Student’s will be evaluated and compared only to the other applicants in their region. A link to the MAbA district map is below.

Missouri Agribusiness Academy District Map

Written applications will be scored by a panel of independent judges. The top 10 applicants per region will move into the semi-final round and will be invited to an in-person interview. Students will be e-mailed about the results of their application by March 1, 2025. Semi-finalists must attend their regional interview at the date and location listed below. The five applicants with the highest combined application and interview scores from each region will be selected to participate in the Missouri Agribusiness Academy.