JEFFERSON CITY – Two high school students from Warden Publishing’s coverage area are among 30 high school sophomores invited to participate in the 2026 Missouri Agribusiness Academy.

Faith Engemann, Hermann, and Seble Stutzman, St. James, are scheduled to spend a week in June in St. Louis exploring careers in agriculture, building leadership skills and learning more about farming, ranching and food production as guest of Missouri’s Department of Agriculture.

“We look forward to welcoming the Missouri Agribusiness Academy students each year,” said Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn in a release issued Thursday. “For nearly 40 years, the Department has hosted some of the state’s brightest young agriculturalists to show them opportunities in many areas of Missouri agriculture. Like their predecessors, these students will lead our industry one day. We are excited to get to know this new class beginning in June.”

Since 1988, the Missouri Agribusiness Academy has awarded more than 1,100 academy opportunities through a competitive application and interview process for high school sophomores interested in pursuing agriculture-related college degrees and careers.

Beyond the summer agribusiness tour, MAbA members will have the opportunity to participate in Missouri State Fair activities, a winter Legislative Day and the MAbA graduation ceremony at the 2027 Missouri FFA Convention.