KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Veteran agricultural educators Leon Busdieker of Hawk Point, Missouri, and Kurt Dillon of St. George, Kansas, have been selected by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City to receive the group’s Distinguished Service Award.
Both Busdieker and Dillon have recently retired after serving as their state’s FFA State Advisor. Each had served many years before that as high school vo-ag instructors.
“We are indebted to the many educators like Leon and Kurt who have inspired, guided and mentored young
people from rural America,” said Dustin Johansen, chair, KC Ag Business Council. Johansen, director of
business development at Farm Journal, pointed out these individuals have influenced thousands of young
people in their career choices and experiences, often without the recognition they so richly deserve.
Leon Busdieker, Hawk Point, Missouri
Leon Busdieker recently retired as the State Director of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education after spending 43 years in Agricultural Education. He taught Agricultural Education for 28 years before retiring from teaching in 2006. Upon retirement he joined the Agricultural Education staff at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education serving five years as the Northeast District Ag Ed Supervisor and the past 10 years as State AFNR Director. As State AFNR Director he provided state-wide leadership for local Agricultural Education programs, additionally serving as state advisor to the Missouri FFA, Postsecondary Agricultural Students (PAS) and the Missouri Young Farmers organizations. On the national level he has served on the National FFA Board of Directors, National FFA Board of Trustees and National FFA Alumni and Supporters Board.
Kurt Dillon, St. George, Kansas
Kurt Dillon served as the Kansas FFA State Advisor from 2011 to 2021. While serving as state advisor, he provided support and guidance to ag teachers across the state and advocated for Kansas FFA at the Kansas
State Department of Education. He was instrumental in helping design the National Agricultural Education Competency Standards as well as being part of the team that led the redesign of the Supervised Agriculture Experience program. He also served on the National FFA Board of Directors. Prior to his position as State Advisor, Dillon was the agricultural education teacher at Rawlins County High School and the Atwood FFA Advisor for 26 years. He served 36 years in Kansas agricultural education.
The Council will honor Busdieker and Dillon for their distinguished at a reception in Kansas City on July 7.
— Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City
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