Jarred Sayre: Shaping Rural Missouri One Student at a Time
By: Gentrie Davis, Missouri Farmers Care
In northeast Missouri, agriculture is more than an industry. It is a way of life carried from one generation to the next. In Agri-Ready Designated Sullivan County, Jarred Sayre embodies agriculture’s spirit as an agriculture instructor and Advisor for Milan FFA and a steward of his family’s cattle operation.
Rooted in Milan
For nearly three decades, Sayre has walked the halls of the Milan school district, shaping students into agricultural leaders and confident young adults prepared to serve their community. His story is deeply rooted in farming, family and a passion for agricultural education that began before he ever stepped into a classroom as a teacher.
“I grew up in Milan,” Jarred says. “This has always been home.”
After graduating from the University of Missouri with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Agricultural Education, Sayre began his teaching career in 1996 at Clark County. He returned home to Milan 26 years ago to pursue his lifelong mission of investing in the next generation of agriculturalists.
The Family Legacy in Agricultural Education
A commitment to agriculture runs deep within the Sayre family. Jarred and his wife, Missy, have raised four children. Two of his children have become Missouri agriculture educators, and his youngest daughter is pursuing an agriculture education degree with plans to become an agriculture educator as well.
“It’s something special to see,” Jarred says with a laugh. “I’m not really sure how it happened, but agriculture education has definitely become a family tradition.”
The roots of that tradition trace back to his own childhood and two major influences in his life: a dedicated agriculture teacher and his mother. Jarred’s mother was a passionate FFA supporter who helped shape agricultural leadership in Missouri.
“When my mom graduated, girls still weren’t admitted into FFA yet,” Jarred explains. “But she poured herself into the organization through her kids and through so many others.”
His mother served as a Missouri FFA Alumni President and spent years supporting agricultural education across Missouri. Combined with the mentorship of his own high school agriculture teacher, those experiences inspired Sayre to help students discover their own passions.
Missouri’s Golden Owl
Jarred’s decades in the classroom reflect countless success stories: state-winning FFA teams, accomplished public speakers and successful alumni now working in agriculture. These are reminders of the impact one teacher can make.
Jarred has been named Missouri’s 2026 Golden Owl Award winner, the state’s highest honor for agricultural educators. The award recognizes exceptional dedication to agricultural education and student success. Jarred’s application was accompanied by testimonials from current and past students, school administration, and community members.
“To look over and see my entire family standing on that stage with me — that was a great moment,” Sayre said. “It was really the highlight of my career.”
Missouri’s Golden Owl Award is presented by Nationwide® and FCS Financial through the Missouri FFA Foundation.
Bringing Agriculture Education to the Next Generation
Jarred’s commitment to investing in the next generation in his community is lived out through Milan’s participation in Ag Education on the Move™ (Ag Moves). The program connects high school FFA members with elementary classrooms through hands-on agriculture lessons designed to improve agricultural literacy. According to Jarred, the impact has been powerful for both the younger students and the FFA members leading the lessons.
“The elementary kids absolutely love it,” he says. “They’re waiting on us every week. But honestly, I think it’s just as good for my high school students as it is for the younger kids.”
Programs like Ag Moves are important in urban as well as rural communities where fewer students grow up directly involved in production agriculture. Jarred believes agricultural education carries an even greater responsibility today to help students understand where their food comes from and why agriculture matters.
“Our job is probably more important than it’s ever been,” he says. “If we’re not teaching these kids about agriculture, then that could become a generation lost.”
Jarred sees abundant opportunities ahead. Traditional row crop and cattle operations still form the backbone of the area’s economy, alongside agricultural industries, like Smithfield Foods, that provide jobs and economic strength. At the same time, he has noticed growing interest among students in gardening, production and learning how to grow their own food.
“I think it’s really good to see families getting back to that,” he says. “Kids are seeing food go from seed to plate firsthand.”
Continuing the Family Legacy
Outside the classroom, Jarred remains connected to agriculture through his family’s cattle operation, where he and his brothers continue managing the farm after the passing of their father last year.
“There’s just something special about taking care of your own little piece of the world,” he says. “That sense of pride never goes away.”
As he looks toward the future, Jarred hopes the legacy he leaves is not measured by awards, but by the lives impacted along the way.
“My goal has always been to keep this program strong for the next person who walks through the door,” he says. “I just hope I’ve made a difference for the kids.”
In communities like Milan, leaders like Jarred Sayre continue to prove why agricultural education matters. Through faith, family, and a lifelong commitment to students, he has helped cultivate future farmers, agricultural leaders, and a stronger community.