Behind every successful farmer, rancher and agribusiness leader, there is usually a teacher who believed in them first. This year, the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City is honoring two such teachers, naming veteran agricultural educators Jason Larison of Holton, Kansas, and Keith Dietzschold of Boonville, Missouri, as recipients of its 2026 Distinguished Service Award.
For anyone who has spent time around an FFA jacket or a high school ag classroom, the value of a great instructor is hard to overstate. These are the men and women who do far more than teach a curriculum. They shape character, plant ambition and quietly hand down a way of life from one generation to the next.
“We are indebted to educators like Jason and Keith who have inspired, guided and mentored countless young people across rural America,” said Kristie Larson, chair of the Agricultural Business Council and Strategic Relationship Manager for the DeBruce Foundation. She noted that both honorees have dedicated their careers to strengthening agricultural education and preparing the next generation of industry leaders.
Jason Larison has given 31 years to agricultural education in Kansas, serving as lead agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Holton High School. His story is a testament to what one committed person can accomplish. When he arrived in 1995, the Holton program was actually at risk of being shut down. Rather than watching it fade, Larison rolled up his sleeves and went to work. Over the years, he built it into one of the most respected and well-rounded agricultural education programs in the state, balancing classroom instruction, FFA involvement and Supervised Agricultural Experience, or SAE, programs that give students real, hands-on learning.
What stands out most about Larison’s career is how far his influence reaches. He has mentored not only students, but future educators, including former students who have gone on to become agriculture teachers and FFA advisors in their own right. As he steps into retirement, he leaves behind a legacy measured not in plaques or titles, but in the lives he helped shape and the values he passed along.
Keith Dietzschold’s commitment runs just as deep, spanning more than four decades in Missouri. He spent over 27 years teaching agricultural education in Lathrop, Cameron and Chillicothe before joining the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, where he rose to serve as Director of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and Missouri State FFA Advisor.
Throughout his career, Dietzschold has earned a reputation for strengthening ag education programs, mentoring fellow educators and championing SAE and work-based learning opportunities for students across the state. That work was recognized in 2024 when he received the Outstanding State Supervisor Award from the National Association of Supervisors of Agricultural Education.
Both men represent something every farm family understands well. The future of agriculture depends on what we are willing to teach and entrust to the young people coming up behind us. Strong educators help ensure that knowledge, work ethic and love of the land keep moving forward, so that farms and the communities around them can endure for generations to come.
The Council will formally recognize Larison and Dietzschold during its Summer Social reception on July 16 in Kansas City. The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City represents more than 700 leaders from across the food and agribusiness value chain. Agribusiness remains a cornerstone of the regional economy, accounting for 8 percent of the workforce and 22 percent of the gross regional product.
To learn more, including photos of the 2026 honorees, visit www.agbizkc.com/news or contact Zach Helder at zach.helder@agbizkc.com.