February 21 is the start of National FFA Week, a time to recognize the impact of agricultural education and student leadership. In observance of the week, the Trenton FFA Chapter is highlighting its 2025–26 officer team, a group of Trenton High School students who are gaining hands-on experience through Supervised Agricultural Experience projects while developing leadership skills that will carry them into future careers.

Titus Kottwitz

Titus Kottwitz is a senior at Trenton High School and currently serves as the Trenton FFA president. His Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project consists of growing and selling onions and grape tomatoes from raised bed gardens, as well as raising and selling pumpkins. Kottwitz also works part time at Grundy County Lumber.

While Kottwitz has been involved in many FFA activities over the past four years, his favorite was attending the Washington Leadership Conference, where he met new friends from across the country and toured famous landmarks in Washington, D.C. Kottwitz sees FFA as an organization that allows students from all backgrounds to have opportunities and experiences centered on agriculture that can be fun, exciting and life-changing.

“One year when I was in summer school, FFA members came and taught us about where our food comes from,” Kottwitz said. “I really enjoyed the presentation, and wanted to join FFA from that moment forward.”

Kottwitz’s greatest accomplishments in FFA include serving as Area II FFA treasurer and being a member of the HYMAX Academy. His fondest memory was traveling to Denver for the Western National Roundup Meats Judging competition.

“Try to attend anything you can,” Kottwitz said. “There are many diverse opportunities for everyone to enjoy. Do whatever you can to make the most out of your FFA experience.”

Upon graduation, Kottwitz plans to attend North Central Missouri College before transferring to Northwest Missouri State University to pursue a degree in agribusiness. He plans to work as an outside salesman for an agribusiness and eventually move into a management position.

Kale Batson

Kale Batson is a senior at Trenton High School and currently serves as the Trenton FFA vice president. Batson’s Supervised Agricultural Experience project includes operating a small herd of commercial Maintainer cattle. He exhibits cattle across Missouri at local, district and state fairs.

Batson has also worked for Kenny Roberts during harvest season and for No Creek Custom Drone Applications, LLC, where he helps maintain and operate drones. He has been very active in FFA throughout high school, and his greatest accomplishment was attending the Missouri Agribusiness Academy.

“I attended MAbA with 29 other sophomores from across Missouri,” Batson said. “During our week, we toured numerous agribusinesses and learned about new business models and sustainable practices in agriculture.”

Batson said his favorite memory was attending the Western National Roundup Meats Judging competition after his team placed second in the Missouri FFA state meats judging contest.

“Our team qualified to attend by placing second in the Missouri FFA state meats judging contest,” Batson said. “During our week in Denver, we practiced at and toured numerous university meat laboratories and traveled to Estes Park.”

Batson said FFA helped him strengthen his connection to agriculture and build relationships with future leaders and industry professionals.

“Get as involved as possible,” Batson said. “I passed on opportunities that I wish I’d have taken. I have never regretted spending time at an FFA event and almost always made a friend.”

Batson plans to attend Wichita State University to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. He hopes to have a career designing and manufacturing agricultural equipment and agricultural spray drones.

Henry Lasley

Henry Lasley is a junior at Trenton High School and currently serves as the Trenton FFA treasurer. His Supervised Agricultural Experience project is operating a lawn-mowing business, where he mows and maintains residential lawns.

Lasley said his favorite FFA activity has been competing on the soils judging team, which qualified for the state competition. His greatest accomplishment and favorite memory was attending the National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, where he toured farms and agribusinesses and attended career expos and general sessions.

“FFA is a way to develop my leadership skills and employability traits by handling my responsibilities and being dependable,” Lasley said.

Lasley encouraged other members to stay active in the organization.

“Get involved in as many FFA activities as you can,” Lasley said. “I’ve had a great time and I am glad I have become more involved in our FFA chapter.”

Lasley plans to enroll in a lineman training program after high school and pursue a career as a lineman.

Justin Dixon

Justin Dixon is a junior at Trenton High School and currently serves as the Trenton FFA reporter. His Supervised Agricultural Experience project consists of raising and selling Boer cross and Spanish goats. He also works part time at Hy-Vee and operates a woodworking and restoration business.

Dixon said his favorite FFA activity is the Barnyard Boogie event, which Trenton FFA hosts for preschool students. He has helped with the petting zoo each year and enjoys working with children as they experience animals for the first time.

“My favorite memory in FFA was making new friends during my time at State FFA Camp at Camp Rising Sun in Lake of the Ozarks,” Dixon said.

Dixon said becoming the chapter’s reporter is his greatest accomplishment. As reporter, he manages the chapter’s social media and creates the official chapter scrapbook.

“I see FFA as an opportunity to become a better leader and a way to gain personal growth and career success,” Dixon said. “Get out there and be an active member.”

Dixon plans to attend college and become certified as a radiology technician.

Jackson Bethards

Jackson Bethards is a junior at Trenton High School and currently serves as the Trenton FFA sentinel. His Supervised Agricultural Experience projects include raising and showing swine at local, district and state fairs, assisting with his family business, No Creek Custom Drone Applications, LLC, and raising and selling sweet corn.

“My absolute favorite FFA event was attending the National FFA Convention because I got to spend a week in Indiana, meeting new people and spending time with my best friends,” Bethards said.

Bethards said his greatest accomplishment was exhibiting the Grand Champion sweet corn in the FFA building at the Missouri State Fair. He said one of his favorite memories was attending the chapter officer retreat and completing a high-ropes course with fellow officers.

“There is no substitute for hard work,” Bethards said.

Bethards hopes to wrestle at the collegiate level while pursuing degrees in psychology and political science. He then plans to attend law school and specialize in family law.