Grace Erickson
Age: 17
Family: Parents, Tim and Nancy Erickson; brother, Parker, age 13
Hometown: Bolivar, Mo.
School: Bolivar High School
FFA Advisors: Ashley Brown and Jason King
4-H Leader: Pam Higgenbotham
What is your involvement in agriculture?
“There are three main areas, horses, showing cattle and my commercial garden. I started riding when I was 4, doing show jumping, which is English riding as my main discipline. I take lessons in Fair Grove, Mo., and go three times a week. I have two horses, Fidego, an Irish sport horse, and my retired horse, Cajun, who stays at our house. I’ve been doing this for years and am just now getting into the more competitive circuit, in St. Louis and Kansas City.
“My parents had a big Simmental operation for years and then sold it. My brother and I picked it up. A friend and I showed in Denver, Colo., in January. I showed my heifer, Bobby Sue, and he showed two heifers and a steer. Mine came in second in her class and then got to go for the Simmental Grand Champion drive. It was at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, one of the biggest shows in the country. Locally, I’m on the Missouri Junior Simmental Board of Trustees. The awesome part of all of this is that you meet so many people and get opportunities for great experiences, like going to Denver.”
What has been your experience with FFA and similar programs?
Grace has enjoyed her involvement in FFA and 4-H projects and they have also enhanced her agriculture pursuits. “My commercial garden started out as an FFA project two years ago. These days I’m busy selling the produce to area businesses, like a local deli and a pasta house.
“My first year in FFA, I did dairy and the second year, soils. This year we are doing entomology, which is insects and I want to interview for a state officer. I went to the Missouri Agri-Business Academy in St. Louis in June 2015. It was all about ag-business and marketing and involved about 30 kids from across the state.”
