Michael Phillips returned home after college to become a partner with his dad, Keith, in the family row crop operation near Kahoka in newly #AgriReady designated Clark County. When Michael’s brother, Cyrus, returned home from college, the farm needed new revenue to support another branch of the family, so Phillips Farms diversified into the pork […]

Located in the far northeast corner of the state, in newly designated #AgriReady Clark County near Kahoka, Britten Gray has been involved in production agriculture since he graduated from high school. Today, Gray Farms is operated by Britten along with his dad, James, and brother, Nick. Gray Farms contributes to Clark County agriculture’s $129.8 million […]

In #AgriReady Clark County near Kahoka that is known for grain crops growing in rows, you may have to see Spring Water Produce to believe they are growing leafy greens and fish. And that is just what people often ask to do, according to co-owner Melissa Riney. Melissa has taken many opportunities to host several […]

Fueling Technology with the Nothdurft Family Near Gordonville in #AgriReady Cape Girardeau County, Jeremie and Laura Nothdurft are continuing traditions and starting new ones. Along with Jeremie’s father, the family farms nearly 1,300 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat on ground that was acquired by their ancestors in the 1800s. The Nothdurft family highly values […]

Emily Hutton moved to #AgriReady McDonald County to teach agriculture after she grew up in nearby Mt. Vernon, Missouri, on a small beef farm. To evade picking up rocks during one of her own high school summers, Emily attended the Missouri Conservation Quail Academy. The weeklong immersive academy experience focused on everything about quail, their […]

A biography on Vance Keaton’s life would be full of good stories. Vance is #FuelingAFarmStory on his farm near the community of Coy in the agricultural powerhouse of #AgriReady McDonald County. Vance grew up on a farm in northwest Arkansas where his parents and grandparents were involved in agriculture, education and University Extension. The family […]

Abby Burke said she decided as a freshman in high school that she wanted to become an agriculture education teacher. “I wanted other kids to experience what I was getting to experience, show them opportunities, and teach them how many different jobs are available in agriculture,” she said. As a dedicated agriculture student at Mississippi […]

4-H Teen Council members from #AgriReady Perry County experienced their hard work making twice the impact when they partnered with Missouri Farmers Care Foundation during 4-H’s annual food drive, #4HFeedingMO, as a part of the #DriveToFeedKids. This group of hard-working youth spent a day volunteering at the Southeast Missouri Food Bank last February. They packed […]

Jim Sherrell, Agriculture Advocate Jim and Beth Sherrell call #AgriReady Camden County home. The couple has raised two sons and enjoy a grandson and granddaughter near picturesque Macks Creek. From there, Jim administrates his construction business providing maintenance to mechanical equipment in industrial and institutional environments. His son leads daily operations in the business which […]

Britt Farms of Clifton Hill, Missouri, located in Randolph County, has been selected as the recipient of the 2022 Missouri Leopold Conservation Award®. This award, named after renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, recognizes farmers, ranchers and foresters who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat management on private land. In Missouri, this […]

Conservation & Transitions with the Aufdenberg Family, 2022 Missouri Leopold Conservation Award Finalists Rick Aufdenberg has been farming near Jackson in #AgriReady Cape Girardeau County for over 40 years and has seen his farm through major transitions. In the 1970s the farm was converted from grassland to crop land to capitalize on growing demand for […]

Conservation & Diversity with the Cope Family, 2022 Missouri Leopold Conservation Award Finalists Harry and Rose Cope, along with their children Sabrina and Dustin, represent the fourth and fifth generations of their family to farm near Truxton in #AgriReady Montgomery County. The diversified livestock on the farm are raised on open pastures; the family raises […]

Conservation & Communication with the Stanton Family, 2022 Missouri Leopold Conservation Award Finalists The Stanton Family has farmed near Centralia, Missouri, for more than 175 years. Today, Andrew and Judy Stanton farm alongside their sons, Dustin and Austin. The family understands that their resources are finite and that the family must work diligently to steward […]

Fueling Beef #AgriReady Howell County encompasses land well suited to raise cattle, and that is where you’ll find Janet Crow and her husband Blake operating their beef farm near West Plains. Both were familiar faces in the agriculture community growing up in South Central Missouri, and like many young married couples, it took a little […]

Mighty Eagles 4-Hers Focus on the Drive to Feed Kids Youth from the Fordland and Rogersville communities in #AgriReady Webster County come together as members of the Mighty Eagles 4-H Club. Building over nearly a decade of experiences and memories, Mighty Eagles members have been engaged in a wide variety of farm and rural-based projects […]

The Alexander Family: #FuelingFutureFarmers In #AgriReady Webster County, near Fordland, Mark and Emma Alexander operate a diversified farm. They host a small herd of beef cattle, an annual group of feeder hogs, a flock of goats, utilize working dogs, and grow perennial flowers. Mark believes this diversity supports the family across multiple seasons and provides […]

The Value of Experience in a Story About Beef Some of the best professional knowledge and wisdom about the beef industry can be heard from the front seat of pickup trucks. This insight can be soaked up from farmers and ranchers driving farm-to-market roads to feed and count cattle while checking fences and water in […]

Old Roots and New Growth in St. Clair County Near Lowry City in #AgriReady St. Clair County, KayLynn Lysinger is living her farm story with her husband, Geoff. Her story isn’t anything like she thought it would be and has had some twists. KayLynn was adopted when she was 16 years old and moved to […]

Mrs. Hawkins Fuels Youth As the quote goes ‘Your greatest accomplishment may not be something you do, but someone you raise,’ or in this case, someone you mentor. Near Appleton City in #AgriReady St. Clair County, Jennifer Hawkins helps operate the family farm with her husband Garrett and their three young children. The family maintains […]

Davin Althoff: Fueling Networks #AgriReady Moniteau County is the home of Davin Althoff’s primary network: the family farm. Davin’s parents, Dennis and Carol, operate the family’s diversified beef operation day by day with support from Davin and his wife, Elizabeth. Davin’s four kids, who are active in both 4-H and FFA programs, also contribute to […]

A Legacy of Conservation on Clay Farms In #AgriReady Moniteau County near Jamestown, Andy Clay stays busy during a hot, dry Missouri summer constantly refueling center pivots that water his traditional corn and soybean crops. Andy adds value to those trips by making stops around the farm to plant food plots, set up hunting blinds, […]

Fueling Learning with Erica the Educator Terry and Erica Schwoeppe started out as feed store sweethearts. They both grew up in agriculture, and now their kids, ages 12 and 14, are getting that same opportunity as their family farms together in #AgriReady Franklin County near Labadie. Terry farms fulltime as the Schwoeppes raise Angus beef […]

How Trey Graves is evolving a seven-generation family operation A father in Congress and a family full of farmers has kept Trey Graves’s life interesting. Though the seventh-generation farmer always knew farming was his end goal, he still makes his life his own in #AgriReady Atchison County. After graduating high school, the Tarkio, Missouri, native […]

Fueling Missouri Rice Kimberly Jones is a rice enthusiast! She grew up in #AgriReady New Madrid County, helping her family on the farm with lots of grunt work, rice gates and irrigation equipment, and growing a love for her favorite crop. Kimberly has fond memories riding along with her sister behind their dad, doing weed […]

Sean Cornelius Fuels Missouri Dairy All dairy farmers are passionate about the dairy industry, but not all dairy farmers are excited about the dairy industry. Sean Cornelius is both. He is the third generation of his family to milk cows on the same land in #AgriReady Caldwell County. The dairy farm family lifestyle is extraordinarily […]

Fueling Entrepreneurship with the Sheppards Jake and Jackie Sheppard each have history on family farms. They are well suited to continue the profession alongside Jake’s parents, Ted and Barbara Sheppard, on approximately 1,200 Agri-Ready Texas County acres. The Sheppards grow their own hay and chop their corn and wheat crops into silage, an important fodder […]

Fueling Perspective with Mike Smody The family beginnings of what Mike Smody views daily in his farming profession was purchased by his grandfather in 1914. In 1962, Mike and his brother began farming together. Mike’s wife, Patricia, has been his most valuable partner for the past 40 years as she has managed paperwork, bookwork, taxes, […]

Fueling Diversification on Beeman Farms Andrew Beeman’s grandfather came to Benton County in the 1950s and fell in love with the flat land and a sweet lady working at the local farm parts dealership. Together they bought their first 160-acre farm. Today, Andrew Beeman is a third-generation Benton County farmer working in partnership with his […]

Fueling Knowledge with Lorryn Bolte Growing up, Lorryn Bolte – who now farms near Bowling Green, Missouri, in Pike County – was an active member of 4-H and FFA, and her family’s hobby farm gave her opportunities to show cattle and pigs and care for horses. When it came time to choose an FFA Supervised […]

Fueling Involvement with the Nobles On an Andrew County family farm near the tiny northwest Missouri town of Bolckow, Korinne Noble represents the fourth generation of her family to be involved in agriculture. She and her husband, Brian, both help with the family farm which includes a cow/calf operation and acres of corn and soybeans. […]

Fueling Innovation with Nathan Holmes Nathan Holmes farms with his dad near Oran in Agri-Ready Designated Scott County. Like other farmers growing rice, corn and beans in southeast Missouri, the Holmes farm realized that too much valuable time was being lost managing irrigation. Nathan explored available management tools, but when none of them solved the […]

From Farm to Spotlight…and back again 55 years. Gene Millard spent 55 years behind a microphone, using his voice to advocate for and communicate with farmers, ranchers and agriculturalists across the Midwest. When 2020 came, Gene decided it was time to leave his half-century career as a farm broadcaster and focus on the farm that […]

Fueling Leadership with the Korffs Logan and Abby Korff have joined their endeavors in the agriculture industry as some of the youngest agriculture leaders in Carroll County. We asked Abby to elaborate on the following topics of interest.   Agriculture careers:   “Logan was able to return to the family farm near Norborne to work […]

Living on Rural Time Bobby Stone spends his time farming in Audrain County near Laddonia, Missouri. It was natural for him to follow in the footsteps of his grandad who began the operation in 1950. Today, he works alongside his father who has continued the professional tradition. Bobby now guides the farming business across 1,900 […]

The idea of living a rural lifestyle has called the past two generations of Mantels to operate the family farm in southern Missouri. Rob Mantel’s parents moved the family from Chicago to Mountain View and built the family cattle operation, Oakhill Ranch, from the ground up in 1969. “We started from scratch,” Rob said. “We […]

Passion and hard work fuel Seth and Brittany Wilbanks, who make their living on Wilbanks Farms in Hughesville, Missouri. Although Seth is the fourth generation to farm in his family, the pair has branched out on their own with both Seth and Brittany working full-time on the family operation while raising their children, Grady and […]

While most family farms have a long line of history and tradition, the Oliver family is breaking ground with their first generation farm, Oliver Farms. Bill Oliver started farming in high school as his Supervised Agricultural Experience for his agricultural education courses. Fifteen years ago, Laura came on board turning the farming project into a […]

Joining the family farming business starts at a young age in the Haun family. Tom and Misty Haun of Holden, Missouri raised their sons, Alex and Nathan, on Haun Farms located in Johnson County. All four of the family members have been involved in the operation ever since. “I think it is unique that our […]

In the Oswald family, everyone gets involved with the family farming business in Fairfax, Missouri. Marion Oswald and his wife, Tonya, raised their five children, Marshall, Adam, Michael, Dru and Amber, on the farm. Marion farms alongside his son, Michael, every day and receives help from the others when necessary. Tonya also does her part […]

When Darin Byrd married Lisa McNeall in 1988, he not only gained a wife and started a family, but also got an invitation to join the family business, McNeall Farms Inc. Raymond and Carolyn McNeall, Darin’s in-laws, own the family farming operation in the Keytesville and Salisbury areas of Chariton County. Raymond, Darin and Kylen, […]

Farming and an involvement in agriculture are old family traditions for Gastler Brothers Farming. The Gastler brothers live in Martinsburg, Missouri, but farm in four different counties. Phil Gastler runs the operation alongside his brothers Jim and Sam and his cousin Steve. Phil said his great grandpa bought the farm in Martinsburg in the mid-‘30s. […]

A passion for farming and agriculture runs five generations deep on Twellman Farms, located in Silex, Missouri. Mark Twellman and his wife, Cheryl, raised their three children, Christy, Jeffrey and Caitlyn, on the farm. The family farm, primarily operated by Mark and Jeffrey, produces corn, soybeans and hay while also managing a cattle herd on […]

In 1976, Missouri farmers were celebrated for the dedication and passion that goes into keeping a farm in the same family for 100 years or more. Today, this tradition continues through the Missouri Century Farm program. According to University of Missouri Extension, 2,850 Missouri farm owners were recognized for owning a “Centennial Farm” during the […]

The Enowski family farm began with Bob’s parents, the late Albert and Venita (Bond) Enowski, when they moved to central Missouri from Michigan with very little money and started a dairy farm. “They spent $1,600 to build the house we live in,” said Lisa Enowski, Bob’s wife and business partner. Today the Enowski’s third-generation farm […]

Going To Bat for Missouri Soybeans Northwest Missouri producer’s leadership has produced wins for the industry by Jason Jenkins, Mill Creek Communications As a lifelong Kansas City Royals fan and current season ticket holder, John Kelley of Faucett, Mo., is well aware of the power of the curveball. It’s a pitch that begins on one […]

‘Profitability Through Conservation’ Johnny Hunter focuses on stewardship as he expands, diversifies his family’s Bootheel farm. By Allison Jenkins, Mill Creek Communications Services Johnny Hunter planted his future at age 10. That was in 1992, the year his father, John, died unexpectedly at 52, leaving his wife, Patricia, to figure out what to do with […]

Legacy in progress Robert Alpers leads by example to preserve his family farm, promote agricultural industry By Allison Jenkins, Mill Creek Communications Services What do a contingent of Chinese grain buyers and a group of urban school teachers have in common? They’ve all been guests on the Prairie Home farm of Robert Alpers, whose commitment […]

Selling Soy MSA President Matt McCrate life’s work revolves around new opportunities for soybean farmers by Jason Jenkins Matt McCrate was destined to be in soybeans. In fact, when he was a young boy, McCrate literally was in soybeans, riding down Main Street during the annual National Soybean Festival in his hometown of Portageville, Mo. […]

Bean Kings David and Kyle Durham carry on a noble family legacy of agricultural leadership by Jason Jenkins, Mill Creek Communications Services David Durham and his son, Kyle, aren’t just soybean farmers — they’re soybean royalty. Their noble lineage began with David’s father-in-law, the late Don Heil, who was the inaugural “King Soybean” at the […]

Bailey Family Farms, LLC is in Pike County, Missouri, near Curryville.  Brock Bailey and Stephanie have three children.  Austin is an Agriculture Lender at TPNB in Paris, MO and his wife Ashley works in sales at Crop Production Services in Bowling Green.  Micah is a junior in Agriculture Education at Mizzou.  Elise is a senior […]