Columbia, Mo.,— Tony Morgan, a senior at Lamar High School, has been selected as one of the 2015 Missouri Pork Association Youth Pork Ambassadors. His selection was announced during the 2015 Missouri Pork Expo on February 10 in Columbia.

Tony is the son of Rick and Melinda Morgan of Lamar, Missouri. He works on the family’s diversified crop and livestock farm. Duties include daily chores, mowing and raking hay, working on the irrigator and working ground. He works with the swine from farrowing to market. He owns nine boer goats, ten sows and pigs, two registered Angus Heifers and four cows.

He is also actively involved in school activities. Tony is president of the Lamar FFA Chapter, Area 9 FFA Officer and president of the Learn-A-Do 4-H Chapter. He is also involved in the Barton County Teen Leaders, University of Missouri Extension Council Youth Representative, DECA, FCCLA, Meals on Wheels and more. Tony was a Missouri Agribusiness Academy Ambassador and attended the Missouri Electric Cooperative Washington D.C. Youth Tour.

After graduation, Tony plans to attend Crowder College in Neosho this Fall. He hopes to then transfer to Missouri State University majoring in agricultural business. He plans to work within the pork industry to expand on his skills and experience.

Throughout the next year, Tony will participate in various events in the pork industry. At the end of the program, he will receive a $1,000 scholarship, payable to a technical school, community college or four-year university.

Qualified applicants must be involved in the pork industry or the son/daughter of a parent or guardian involved in the pork industry, and between their senior year of high school and sophomore year of college as of January 1, 2015.

The Missouri Youth Pork Ambassador program combines a scholarship opportunity with the chance to actively participate in Missouri’s pork industry. It provides an opportunity for youth to develop strong relationships with both pork producers and allied industry members, while improving communication and leadership skills.

The Missouri Pork Association represents the state’s pork producers in the areas of promotion, research, education and legislation. For more information about this or any other programs of the Missouri Pork Association, go to www.mopork.com, or call the Missouri Pork Association office at (573) 445-8375.