Missouri State University junior Brayden Selgeby is taking advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow as a future agriculture professional.  

Originally from Neosho, Missouri, he credits his involvement in FFA during high school for sparking his interest in agriculture.  

“I really liked the people in the agriculture industry and the opportunities FFA provided,” Selgeby said.  

His success in the national poultry evaluation competition in 2023 inspired him to pursue a degree in agricultural business at Missouri State. 

Thriving as a Bear 

For Selgeby, becoming a Bear was an easy decision. He was already familiar with the campus and knew it was affordable.    

“I came to Missouri State a lot in high school for FFA competitions, so I knew the campus and some of the people here,” he said. “But the biggest factor was the scholarships to help me get through school.” 

He is an active member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and serves as an agriculture ambassador for the Darr College of Agriculture. In this role, he travels to college fairs, career fairs and high school classrooms to promote the college.   

A voice in national agriculture 

Selgeby recently participated in the 2026 National Association of State Departments (NASDA) NextGen program, a leadership and professional development opportunity for students interested in agriculture policy. 

His journey began when the college nominated him to attend the NASDA annual meeting in Rogers, Arkansas, from Sept. 14-18, 2o25. There, he joined 15 students from universities across the country to discuss industry trends and policy issues. From that group, he was one of two selected to attend the 2026 Winter Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., from Feb. 2-4.  

“For me, it was an opportunity to learn more about policy and how it impacts day-to-day agricultural operations,” he said. “I also gained more insight into the agriculture industry as a whole.”  

Highlights from D.C. 

One of the things that stood out to Selgeby was participating in a competitive project with Merck Animal Health. He and his peers researched and developed a policy proposal regarding the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement for free trade. They presented their findings to Merck leadership and later to the Canadian and Mexican embassies, deepening their understanding of international agriculture practices.

“It was exciting to see my work potentially influence something as important as the free trade agreement,” he said.  

Selgeby also connected with industry professionals from Purina, where he recently secured a summer internship.

“Building connections that could benefit my career was valuable,” he said. 

Other highlights of his trip included visiting historic landmarks like the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the U.S. Capitol and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Selgeby, who will graduate in December 2027, hopes to build a career in agricultural marketing and sales or policy advocacy. 

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