Name: Cody Nicholson
Age: 16-year-old Junior at Mountain View-Birch Tree Liberty High School
Hometown: Birch Tree, Mo.
Parents: John and Darlene Nicholson
Grandparents: Paul and Beverly Nicholson
FFA Club: Mountain View-Birch Tree
FFA Advisor: Marc Cornman
How are you involved in agriculture?
“I am the third generation growing up on the family farm,” he explained. “I work the farm after school, on the weekends and every summer and school break. I basically do what I’m told to help out on the farm,” he adds. His family owns and operates about 4,000 acres near Birch Tree, Mo., where they run about 800 head of momma cows. “I drive the tractor, truck and trailer and really can do about whatever is needed on the farm,” Cody added.
What associations involved with because of agriculture?
“I am in my third year with the FFA and I also do team roping,” explained Cody. According to him FFA has helped through the information available. “I’ve taken vet science, forest management and ag mechanics. It’s the same group of students each year, and we just learn more in-depth stuff and keep going up with the information levels of the classes,” he explained.
What are your future plans?
Cody plans to get his diploma from high school and then work on the farm. “I grew up on the farm and hope between me and my brother Ethan (19), we’ll be able to keep the farm operating,” he said. “Many of the farms in this area are operated by the older generations and too many of the third generations don’t want to work the farms.”
Story and Photo by Stephanie Beltz-Price
