Senath-Hornersville High School hosting Future Farmers of America banquet

Charles Kruse

Senath-Hornersville High School will be hosting its annual Future Farmers of America (FFA) banquet at 6 p.m., Friday, March 23, 2007, which will feature keynote speaker, Charles E. Kruse, President of the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation and Dexter, Mo., farmer.

Kruse and his wife, Pam, own and operate a row crop farm in Stoddard County. He is a past executive vice president and chief operating officer of the North American Equipment Dealers Association, a past director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, a former member of the University of Missouri board of curators and a former research agronomist at the University's Delta Center at Portageville, Mo.

Additionally, Kruse is a retired brigadier general of the Missouri Army National Guard.

According to SHHS Agriculture Instructor John Dern, Kruse will attend the FFA banquet and speak to its members.

"Kruse is an excellent example of a team leader who leads by example," Dern said. "He displays exemplary service to those who have selected him as their representative and voice in agriculture. We are proud to have him be a part of our FFA Banquet."

Dern also said that Kruse's accomplishments are many and his experience is extensive.

"This provides our FFA members and guests an opportunity to listen to one of Missouri's outstanding agriculture representatives," Dern said.

In 2001, Kruse was appointed to the board of directors of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, and later the former Eagle Scout was named to the Executive Board of the Great Rivers Council of Boy Scouts of America.

USDA Secretary Ann Veneman re-appointed Kruse to the Agricultural Technical Advisory Commission on 21st Century Production of Agriculture, which provided the framework of the new farm bill and is currently a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation board of directors.

Kruse earned a degree in agronomy from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Ark. in 1967 and a master of science degree in agronomy from the University of Missouri in 1973.

He is the recipient of the University of Missouri Faculty Alumnus and Ag Alumnus of the Year awards and the Arkansas State University Outstanding Alumni Award.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend this year's FFA banquet and meet with Kruse, members of the SHHS FFA organization, and Agriculture teacher John Dern. For more information contact John Dern at (573) 738-2661 or jdern@shs.k12.mo.us.