• Hometown: Neosho, Mo.
• Parents: Angel Arentsen
• Sibling: Ryan Johnson (22)
• FFA Chapter: Neosho FFA
• Advisors: Kelin Kruse, Austin Steele, Jennifer Thogmartin
Involvement in agriculture: Andi Johnson works at Fausett Greenhouse in Neosho, Mo., just about every day. She plants, waters, transplants and cares for vegetables and flowers, and helps load the truck every evening. Andi has worked at Fausett for about two years and cares for flowers of her own at home as well.
This year, Andi was honored to be the first recipient of the Larry Fausett scholarship, who was the founder of Fausett Greenhouse. Andi was on the floriculture team through FFA and qualified for state competition during the last school year.
Andi also won the Diversified Horticulture Proficiency at state and will represent Missouri at the national level this fall.
What is your favorite part of being involved in ag?
“My favorite part of being in FFA and working at the greenhouse is that you are treated like family and if you ever need anything, anyone around you would definitely help out. At the greenhouse, I like the customer interaction in the springtime when we get to see all the people of Neosho come in and buy plants for their homes. When I first started at Fausett’s, I could maybe name five or six plants, but now I can name just about every plant we sell. They trained me there and I have gained a lot of horticulture knowledge such as what flowers need what.”
What are your future plans?
“I plan to work at Fausetts for at least the next couple years. I love getting to plant flowers and watch them grow throughout the summer. I am undecided on my career path, but I will be attending Crowder College in Neosho and will probably be taking an ag-related class. My future goal is to own a small business in Neosho. I love the small-town atmosphere. You can have anybody walk in your door and nine times out of 10 you are going to know them and be able to carry on a conversation with them.”
