Area students attend Youth Leadership Day in Jefferson City

Students attending Farm Bureaus Youth Leadership Day were,from left, were Wyatt Hunziker and Dylan Ash.
Students attending Farm Bureaus Youth Leadership Day were,from left, were Wyatt Hunziker and Dylan Ash.

The Capitol was bustling with activity as 441 high school students and their chaperons took part in Missouri Farm Bureau Youth Leadership Day, April 9. This is the 21st year for the event, sponsored by the organization's Promotion and Education Program.

The group, most wearing FFA jackets, visited when both House and Senate chambers were in session. The students were able to connect with legislators and several school groups were recognized on the floor of each chamber. Many received a guided tour to the top of the Capitol dome.

After returning for lunch, students heard from retired U.S. Air Force bomber pilot Lt. Colonel Raffaele "Tony" Monetti. After graduating from the USAF Academy, he flew the B-2, B-1 and B-52 bombers for 24 years. After retiring from service Monetti flew for the airlines as a 757 pilot. An author of two motivational books, he is currently Assistant Dean of Aviation for the University of Central Missouri. Monetti talked about FLY, an acronym for moving forward, living life to the fullest and saying "yes" to the possibilities we are presented.

Other speakers included MFB President Blake Hurst and MFB Ambassadors Miriam Martin of Bucklin and Dustin Stanton of Centralia. Both, who are currently students at the University of Missouri, talked about the leadership values they are learning as ambassadors.

Costs for the school trip are underwritten by county Farm Bureaus and the MFB Foundation for Agriculture. Those attending from Moniteau County were Wyatt Hunziker and Dylan Ash.