El Dorado Springs Youth to Participate in 2026 Scholarship Program

Osage Beach, Mo.,—The Missouri Pork Association (MPA) is pleased to announce the selection of Braxton Watts from El Dorado Springs as a 2026 Missouri Youth Pork Ambassador. His selection was announced today at the Missouri Pork Expo in Osage Beach. 

Braxton is the son of Matthew and Jenny Watts. He is a freshman at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg and will graduate in December, 2028. He is currently majoring in wildlife biology conservation enforcement, with plans to pursue a career as a conservation agent with the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Braxton maintains three jobs when not in class – he is employed at Mike and Joe’s Service Station, is a summer farmhand at Wosoba Fescue Seed Buying Station, and is a farmhand at Outlaw Farms. His ties to the pork industry go back many years as his father has worked for Murphy Family Farms, Synergy, and Murphy Family Ventures for almost 30 years.

He is currently serving as Missouri FFA State Vice President, and was Area IX FFA president prior to that. Braxton is also a National Team Leader for the MyFFAExperience program. In 2025, he was a National FFA Gold Winner in Agriculture Communications Proficiency and received his Missouri FFA State Degree. He is currently a member of the UCM Collegiate Farm Bureau. While in high school, he was also involved in the National Honor Society and Student Council.

During the next year, Braxton will attend events such as the Annual Golf Tournament and Missouri State Fair. At the end of the program, he will receive a $1,000 scholarship payable to a technical school, community college or four-year university. 

The Missouri Youth Pork Ambassador program combines a scholarship opportunity with the chance to actively participate in Missouri’s pork industry. It provides an opportunity for youth to develop strong relationships with both pork producers and allied industry members, while improving communication and leadership skills. 

The Missouri Pork Association represents the state’s pork producers in the areas of promotion, research, education, and public policy. For more information about this or any other programs of the Missouri Pork Association, go to www.mopork.com, or call the Missouri Pork Association office at (573) 445-8375. 

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