Ag Business Council Selects Clark, Stone for Distinguished Service Awards

June 24, 2024, KANSAS CITY, MO.  Veteran agricultural educators Kim Clark of Hoyt, Kansas, and Scott Stone of Centralia, Missouri have been selected by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City to receive the group’s Distinguished Service Award.

“We are indebted to the many educators like Kim and Scott who have inspired, guided and mentored young people from rural America,” said Ron Seeber, chair, KC Ag Business Council.  Seeber, who serves as president and CEO of Kansas Grain and Feed Association, Kansas Ag Retailers, and Renew Kansas, pointed out these individuals have influenced hundreds of young people in their career choices and experiences, often without the recognition they so richly deserve.

Kim clark

Kim Clark, Royal Valley (KS) Ag Education Instructor and FFA Advisor

Kim Clark is the Agricultural Education instructor and FFA Advisor at Royal Valley High School in Hoyt, Kansas since 2013. Prior to this, she worked at the Kansas State Department of Education as an Education Program Consultant for Career and Technical Education for four years and at Marysville High School as an Agriculture Education instructor for four years. As an educator, Clark was named the National Association of Agricultural Education Region 2 Outstanding Program in 2018, the National Association of Agricultural Education Region 2 Outstanding Young Member in 2015, the Kansas Association of Agricultural Education Outstanding Agricultural Education Teacher in 2024, and a Kansas FFA Golden Owl Finalist in 2024.

Clark is honored to have advised two Kansas FFA State FFA Presidents. Since starting the FFA chapter in 2013, 10 FFA members have earned the American FFA Degree at Royal Valley.  She has served as a National FFA Teacher Ambassador since 2016, as a National FFA Teacher Mentor Ambassador since 2022, and has mentored three student teachers. 

Kim grew up in the same county she is currently teaching in at the neighboring school and was active in 4-H for 12 years and served as a Kansas FFA State Officer in 2002-2003. She graduated from Kansas State University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Education and from Baker University with a Masters of Arts in Education in 2007. She has two sons, Monte (16) and Brock (11). Aside from teaching and advising her students, she likes to spend time working out, taking walks and hikes, spending time at the lake, and attending her children's activities. 

Scott Stone

Scott Stone, Centralia (MO) Ag Education Instructor and FFA Advisor

Scott Stone serves as one of three Agricultural Educators at Centralia High School, where he has taught for the past 26.5 years. Stone was born and raised in Pennsylvania on a dairy farm. He served as a Pennsylvania State FFA officer in 1993-94. Stone attended Penn State for two years and then finished his education at the University of Missouri - Columbia where he earned his BS and Master’s degrees. Stone currently resides in Centralia, Missouri with his wife Jeannette and three children, Zane, Annamarie, and Stetson. In his spare time, Stone enjoys working on the family's small farm and doing workshops for FFA members and agricultural educators.   

During Stone's tenure as an Agriculture Instructor and FFA Advisor, he has served as the Missouri Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association president, The National Association of Agricultural Educators President and President of the National Association for Career and Technical Education. He is also a National Association of Agricultural Educators Ambassador, where he travels across the country and presents to pre-service and practicing teachers. This past year the Centralia FFA Chapter was named the number one FFA Chapter in the state. Stone was named the Missouri Outstanding Young Teacher and Outstanding Mentor by the Missouri Vocational Agriculture Teacher’s Association. Stone has mentored five student teachers and served as a mentor to 18 first- and second-year teachers.

The Council will honor Clark and Stone for their distinguished service at a reception in Kansas City on July 9.