Meet Rising Star of the West finalist Elliot Hendrix

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - You won’t find many teenagers more well-spoken than Rapid City Stevens senior Elliot Hendrix.

He knows what he’s passionate about and enjoys sharing it with others.

“The absolute best way to get out and spread your message is, is to get out and spread your message,” Hendrix said. “In order to find your way, and then to build your own platform, you have got to meet people.”

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And he’s done just that. Hendrix has found a love for the agriculture industry and wants his peers to see what he sees. He’s an active member of Stevens’ Future Farmers of America Club (FFA) and has held multiple leadership positions at both the chapter and district levels.

“I already knew that the Ag industry was bigger than just traditional production, so ranching and farming through my parents backgrounds, but my time in FFA and in high school especially has shown me just how big it is,” Hendrix explained.

Hendrix is a 6th generation cattle producer, and as you heard him say, all of this is in his DNA. His mom is an Ag teacher and his dad manages an equine reproduction facility. Yet, the senior is considering a career in Ag-based policy.

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“I’ve been in deep since I was little, and I’m very passionate about advocating,” Hendrix continues. “Especially coming from Stevens High School, a very urban school. It’s very cool and very important to me to be able to show people why Ag matters and the impact of the industry.

The most important part is making Ag relatable for everyone. Not everybody understands the reach this industry has on all of us.

“Many people when they get asked, ‘Oh, where’s your food come from?’ It comes from down the road at the store. ‘Well, where does it come from before that?’ It gets processed. ‘Where does it come before that?’ It comes from a producer. So, it’s all connected and Ag is in everyday life,” Hendrix said.

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