JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Agriculture has selected 30 high school sophomores to participate in the 2026 Missouri Agribusiness Academy. Selected students will spend a week in June in St. Louis exploring careers in agriculture, building leadership skills and learning more about farming, ranching and food production.
“We look forward to welcoming the Missouri Agribusiness Academy students each year,” said Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. “For nearly 40 years, the Department has hosted some of the state’s brightest young agriculturalists to show them opportunities in many areas of Missouri agriculture. Like their predecessors, these students will lead our industry one day. We are excited to get to know this new class beginning in June.”
Since 1988, the Missouri Agribusiness Academy has awarded more than 1,100 academy opportunities through a competitive application and interview process for high school sophomores interested in pursuing agriculture-related college degrees and careers.
Students selected for the 2026 class are:
Beyond the summer agribusiness tour, MAbA members will have the opportunity to participate in Missouri State Fair activities, a winter Legislative Day and the MAbA graduation ceremony at the 2027 Missouri FFA Convention.
For additional details about the 2026 Missouri Agribusiness Academy, as well as more information on the Department of Agriculture, please visit the Department online at Agriculture.Mo.Gov.
She was born July 18, 1960, in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Joseph Elmer Caswell and Ruth Marie (Milam) Richardson. On May 20, 2000, she married Donald Lee “Mack” MacKenzie Jr. at the Windsor Farrington Park and he survives of the home.
In addition to her husband, survivors include a daughter, Miya Berube, Windsor, Mo.; 3 grandchildren, Tre’ Jacks, Katelynn Berube (Austin Holt), and Jacob Berube; 4 great-grandchildren, Graycyn Hall, Bennett Holt, Brantley Holt, and Eden Jacks; a half-brother, David Houk; all of Windsor; a half-sister, Sandy Strode (Kenny); 4 step-siblings, Randy Tangman, Lynette Venable, Carla Bandy, and Becky Murray (Kenny); and lots of cousins and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father and step-mother, Joseph and Virginia Caswell and her mother, Ruth Richardson.
She worked as a CNA at the former Windsor Resthaven nursing home in Windsor. She enjoyed trucking with Mack for several years, before returning to work in healthcare at Windsor Healthcare & Rehabilitation. In her 24-year career at Windsor Healthcare, she worked in several capacities, including housekeeping supervisor and activities director. She enjoyed planning activities for the residents and taking them on occasional outings. She was a beloved caregiver and friend to many residents over the years. She was a cat-lover and made sure neighborhood strays were cared for. MaDonna enjoyed taking family day trips for miniature golf outings and vacations to her favorite spot, the ocean. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and loved spending time with her family. She was a member of Windsor Assembly and a former member of the American Legion Auxiliary.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturday, April 4, 2026, at the Hadley Funeral Home, Windsor. The family suggests contributions to the Activities Fund at Windsor Healthcare (please make checks payable to WHCR Activities), and contributions may be left in care of the funeral home.
Dorothy worked as a Support Care Assistant at the State Hospital. She also previously worked at Madalyn's Kitchen in Schell City, was raised in the Mennonite faith, and was a huge fan of Elvis Presley and spent her free time crocheting, beading, diamond painting, and hunting for antiques. Most of all, she cherished the time spent with her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rick Covey; her parents; her sister, Karen Koehn; her brother, John Kasper; and her nephew, Reno Kasper.
Dorothy is survived by her children, Juanita (Timothy) Covey, Jaimie Covey, and LeRoy Covey, all of Nevada; grandchildren: Zowie Gurley (John Moss), Nevada, MO, Landon Gurley, Logan Gurley, both of Appleton City, MO and Lillie Covey, Nevada, MO; her siblings, Ethel (Monroe) Koehn of Moundridge, KS, and Pearl Kasper of Nevada, MO, Bruce (Kathy) Kasper of Weatherford, Oklahoma.
A visitation will be held from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, followed immediately by the funeral service at 2:00 pm at the Living Faith Mennonite Church. Ron Koehn, Shelby Koehn & James Wenger will officiate. Interment will follow at the Mennonite Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers are Cory Scheerer, Jaimie Covey, Tim Henley, Devin Schmidt, Landon Gurley, and Logan Gurley.
Contributions are suggested to help with service expenses and may be made to the funeral home.
