KONNOR HEADRICK: THE FUTURE OF MISSOURI BEEF IS ALREADY HERE
Konnor Headrick’s 2026 Missouri Cattlemen’s Association FFA speech reaches current and future agriculture leaders.
Konner Headrick is a passionate young cattleman in Agri-Ready Designated Dent County near Salem committed to getting the word out about opportunities the beef industry offers to the next generation. Konner distilled his farm experiences into a call to action for the future of agriculture and shared them in a speech he entitled ‘Life of a Cattleman’. His speech was chosen as the 2026 Missouri Cattlemen’s Association FFA Speech Contest winner.
Growing Up on the Farm
Konnor became a partner of his family’s generational commercial Angus operation, Headrick Livestock, when he purchased his first herd as a 6th grader. He paid off his loan with earnings from showing cattle. Recently, Konnor briefly broke from feeding cattle on a chilly day to talk about his speech and competition experience. His family’s methods and how they have benefited Konnor growing up on the farm are outlined in his speech:
“We still do things horseback — not because we’re stuck in the past, but because it works. And because it builds more than just muscle — it builds character…That’s how I want to learn — not by watching from the fence, but by being in it. By doing the work, making mistakes, and figuring it out the way folks before me did. Because that’s how you get good — and that’s how you earn it.”
Traditions
Raising cattle is a tradition in Konnor’s family. What he learns about traditions as he grows up surrounded by them is included in his speech:
“I was sitting in the truck with my grandpa, watching a first-calf heifer try to bring her baby into the world. The calf finally hit the ground, and we watched as it stood — legs shaky, unsure, but determined. After a while, my grandpa looked out the window and said, ‘Tradition doesn’t survive by accident — someone’s gotta keep it going.’
That moment stuck with me. Because just like that calf was taking its first breath, I realized I’m part of a generation stepping into a world we didn’t build — but we’re the ones who have to keep it alive. And Missouri’s cattle industry? It’s just like that calf — strong, full of potential, but needing the right kind of guidance to grow.”
Connections
It isn’t just the methods, the work, or the products that make agriculture Missouri’s #1, $93.7 billion industry. Economic success is realized when each new generation recognizes the broader role that agriculture plays. Konnor makes the connection, and shares it in his speech:
“I’ve seen what happens when you sell a calf — you don’t just bring money home. That money turns into feed from the feed store, diesel at the gas station, maybe a new tire at the local shop, or a vet bill that keeps another calf alive…An agriculture dollar is passed through the community up to seven times. That means one dollar doesn’t just stay on the farm — it moves through small towns and keeps businesses alive. It’s keeping rural Missouri turning. Every cattle sale is a ripple — and those ripples build communities.”
The Future Begins Now
Konnor’s speech reaches future agriculturalists and today’s agriculture leaders as well:
“…we’re out here. Kids like me are already hauling hay, working cows, doing chores before school, and learning every day what it takes to make this life work. If we want agriculture to survive, we have to support the ones coming up next — not someday, but now.
“…We do it because we care about something bigger than ourselves. We care about the land — keeping it healthy for the next generation. We care about the animals — raising them right and treating them well. We care about feeding people — people we’ll never meet, but who depend on us every single day. That’s something I think about often. Especially when I hear people say agriculture is dying. Because from where I stand — in the mud, in the snow, in a feed truck before sunrise — I see something different. I see life. I see the future.”
Konnor believes the most powerful thing today’s agriculture leaders can do for youth is to show them how they belong. He experienced a form that proactive invitation as a participant in the Cattlemen’s speech contest this year.
More About Konnor
Konnor summed up his speaking experience saying, “As an underclassman at the state level competition, I felt like an underdog in this contest. What a thrill to win!” He credits the wisdom of his grandpa, dad, and uncle for fueling his success. Konnor is a sophomore and 2nd vice-president of the Salem FFA chapter. He plans to raise cattle as a career, but his speaking success has inspired him to consider attending college to develop his skills. He is the son of Summer Warrick and Justin Headrick, president of the Dent/Phelps County Cattlemen’s, affiliate of MCA. Missouri Cattlemen’s Association is a partner of Missouri Farmers Care.
Agri-Ready Dent County. Agriculture, including food, feed and forestry, contributes $112.1 million in value-added products, $354.4 million in output, over 2,100 jobs, and adds $188.6 million to household incomes in Dent County according to the 2021 Missouri Economic Contribution of Agriculture and Forestry Study.
What is Agri-Ready County Designation? Agri-Ready County Designation is a voluntary program that recognizes counties committed to supporting and growing their agricultural industry. To qualify, a county must agree to support agricultural stewardship, growth, and economic interests. The designation helps counties promote themselves as agricultural hubs, attracting and supporting agribusiness. More information can be found at https://mofarmerscare.com/agri-ready/.
What is Missouri Farmers Care? Missouri Farmers Care unites the state’s agricultural community to support the men and women who provide the food and jobs that sustain Missouri. With the partnership of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association and 45 other member organizations, MFC works to ensure all Missourians understand the truth about modern agriculture, food production, and the farm families behind it.