Brynn Myers, a student at Oak Ridge High School, is among an elite group of young people from around the state who will travel to St. Louis in June as members of the 2015 class of the Missouri Agribusiness Academy.

Sarah Alsager, public information officer for the Missouri Department of Agriculture, said the organization receives about 200 applications for spots in the program annually.

"Each year, the Missouri Department of Agriculture gives 30 high-school students from throughout Missouri the opportunity to explore careers in agriculture through the Missouri Agribusiness Academy," Alsager said. "In many cases, students compete at the local and regional level for one of the 30 spaces in the program."

Students are chosen to represent different parts of the state, including the Northwest, South-central, Southeast and Southwest districts. In addition to Myer, other students representing the Southeast district are Andrew Aufdenberg of Cape Girardeau, a student at Saxony Lutheran High School; Connor Nordwald from East Prairie; Emily Mouser of Dexter; and Morgan Brunk of Fredericktown.

Myers, 16, said she has been interested in agriculture almost all her life.

She has been interested in agriculture for as long as she can remember and joined 4-H as soon at her earliest opportunity.

"I have been a 4-H member since I could begin," Myers said. "You have to be 8 years old as of Jan. 1."

Because of her birthdate, she wasn't able to start until she was 9.

Myers didn't let that slow her down.

"I started way before that," Myers said. "I was in Clover Kids since I was 5 years old, until I could actually be in 4-H. I've been around it most of my life."

Clover Kids is a program run by 4-H for younger children, so participating in the Missouri Agriculture Academy is a natural progression for Myers.

"I was drawn into the Missouri Agribusiness Academy mostly because I am a member of 4-H at a local club and because we have cattle," Myers said.

She said her brother and sister, Dustin and Kali Myers, participated in the Missouri program in 2005 and 2008, respectively, and are two of the 800 students who have gone through it since it began in 1988.

The purpose is to give students a chance to gain a different perspective about the business of agriculture.

"The purpose is to offer a youth leadership program focused on career exploration in the fields of agribusiness, government and production agriculture that connects young people with industry leaders for a hands-on look at the industry," Alsager said.

While in St. Louis, students will visit a number of businesses in the area related to careers in agriculture.

"The 2015 Academy will tour agribusinesses, explore educational opportunities and meet with agricultural leaders in the St. Louis area," Alsager said. "Each year, the class visits a different area of the state."

Businesses the students will visit this year include Mid America Biofuels, Whole Foods, Thies Farm and Greenhouse, Stanton Brothers Egg Farm and Monsanto.

The students are kept busy during their week-long stay. Each day begins at 7:30 a.m. and doesn't end until 7:30 p.m. In addition to visiting companies, participants hear from guest speakers.

Two of the speakers this time include Ken Ohlemeyer, senior account manager at Brighton Agency, a St. Louis advertising firm that specializes in marketing agriculture products, and Jim Bellis, a professor at the William H. Darr School of Agriculture at Missouri State University.

Because the agriculture industry is robust, the Department of Agriculture is glad to help young people get more information about careers in the field.

"Agriculture has a tremendous impact on our nation's economy, and Missouri is at the heart of this industry. It is important that young people carry on the tradition and heritage of those who have made this state the agricultural leader it is today," Alsager said.