Hometown: Pierce City, Mo.
Age: 18
Parents: Steve and Susan Salsman
Siblings: Crae Salsman (age 11)
FFA Chapter: Pierce City FFA
Chapter Advisors: Isaac Melin and Heather DeOrnellis
Involvement in agriculture?
Cole Salsman grew up in Pierce City, Mo., helping his dad Steve on their 30-acre farm raising fescue and alfalfa, spreading fertilizer, spraying and building fence. For the last five years, they have purchased 10 to 20 calves each year, feeding them out for a few months and then reselling them. Cole has worked for his Uncle Kip Cullers unloading trucks and preparing fields for the next crop as well as for his aunt Michelle Cullers helping in the chicken houses. In spring and summer, he works for his neighbor Paul Heidladge dragging pastures, working cows, helping haul cattle to the stockyards, working ground, and running the combine and grain cart.
Cole loves taking care of cows and enjoys row crop farming. This year, Cole is the FFA Chapter secretary and is currently on the ag sales team. He won first place at the area level in his SAE proficiency, diversified crop production, and is now headed to state. He will also receive his State FFA degree this year. Cole said being in FFA has allowed him to meet new people from all over the four states.
“I would have never met these people if I would not have been in FFA.”
Future Plans:Cole’s future plans are to attend Crowder College for two years then transfer to Missouri State University, majoring in ag sales and marketing to pursue a career in the cattle industry.
What is the best advice about agriculture you have received and how has that advice helped you?
“Somebody who I have always looked up to is my old ag teacher who retired last year, Duane Kaiser. He owns a dairy and the dairy business these days is tough, but he still gets up every morning and milks his cows and that has just shown me that even when times are tough, you just have to keep getting up early in the morning to work.”
What advice would you give other young people who want to be involved in agriculture?
“There’s a big variety of different ways to be involved in agriculture. The only way to figure out what you like is to get out and try it.”
