Here are just some of the stories about the hard working Missourians who spend their lives growing the safe, nutritious food our families rely on.

Scott Steele: #POWERING Local Protein
Scott Steele’s experiences in the meat industry have been an adventure that began in Central Florida and have taken him across the Midwest before settling in #Agri-Ready Designated Cole County. Scott is #POWERINGLocalProtein for his quickly growing customer base at Steele’s Fine Custom Meats in Jefferson City. A New Local Business with Great History Steele’s […]

Andrew & Clarissa Cauthorn: POWERING New Opportunities
Andrew and Clarissa Cauthorn farm near Mexico in Audrain County, Missouri’s first county to become #Agri-Ready Designated. This Missouri agriculture power couple live out a calling to build community and serve in a variety of leadership roles. They are excited to be raising crops and cattle on Andrew’s generational family farm. Andrew and Clarissa are […]

Kylie Scrivner: #POWERING Genetics for Animal Agriculture
In newly #Agri-Ready Designated Douglas County near Goodhope, Kylie Scrivner’s FFA Supervised Agriculture Experience project is her work on the family dairy farm. The farm is an example of the 98 percent of farms in Douglas County that are owned and operated by families. Kylie is a senior at Ava High School and is serving […]

David Emerson & Family: POWERING Aquaculture in Douglas County
In newly #Agri-Ready Designated Douglas County near Ava, David Emerson serves as the vice-president of Crystal Lake Fisheries Family Trout Farm. In fact, Douglas County is the #1 ranked county for aquaculture production in Missouri according to the 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture. David’s father, Dwight, wanted to raise fish when he returned from voluntary […]

Andrea King: #POWERINGShropshires
Andrea King and her family have called #Agri-Ready Designated Marion County, near Palmyra, home for many years. She and her four siblings started ‘Peiter Shrops’ in 1983 to raise quality, registered Shropshire sheep. Today, the next generation of the family is #POWERINGShropshires, too. From Then Until Now Andrea grew up in Marion County on a […]

Donnie Hays: #PorkPOWER
In #Agri-Ready Marion County near Monroe City, Donnie Hays joined the family farm business to become the site manager of the sow unit on Ketsenburg-Hays Farms when he returned home from college in 2014. The family is deeply rooted in agricultural production and leadership. Donnie’s father Todd is the vice president of Missouri Farm Bureau. […]

Powering Dirt into Dinner – Michael Phillips
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 […]

Powering Backgrounding – Britten Gray
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 […]

Powering Agriculture with Aquaponics – Travis and Melissa Riney
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 — Jeremie and Laura Nothdurft
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 […]

Fueling Conservation Education — Emily Hutton
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 […]

Fueling a Farm Story — Vance Keaton
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 […]

Fueling Opportunities — Abby Burke
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 […]

Fueling Food Security — Perry County 4-H
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 […]

Fueling Advocacy — Jim Sherrell
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 Receives 2022 Missouri Leopold Conservation Award
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 and Transitions — Rick Aufdenberg
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 and Diversity— Cope Grass Farms
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 […]

Fueling Conservation and Communication — Stanton Farms
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 — Janet Crow
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 […]

Fueling the Drive to Feed Kids — Mighty Eagles 4-H Club
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 […]

Fueling Future Farmers — the Alexander Family
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 […]

Fueling the Value of Experience — Bradley Chisum
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 […]

Fueling Transitions — KayLynn Lysinger
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 […]

Fueling Youth — Jennifer Hawkins
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 […]

Fueling Networks — Davin Althoff
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 […]

Fueling Conservation — Clay Farms
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 — Erica Schwoeppe
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 […]

Fueling Change — Trey Graves
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
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 […]

Fueling Missouri Dairy — Sean Cornelius
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 — Jake and Jaclyn Sheppard
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 — Mike Smody
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 — Beeman Farms
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 — Lorryn Bolte
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 — Brian and Korinne Noble
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 — Nathan Holmes
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 […]

Fueling Communication — Gene Millard
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 – Logan and Abby Korff
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 […]

Fueling Legacy – Casner Farms
Fueling a Legacy with Casner Farms Near Carrollton, Missouri, Adam Casner farms in the Missouri River bottoms along with his dad, Kevin, just as his generations before him. Adam represents the seventh generation of Casners to farm the fertile river bottoms of Carroll County. The history of Casner Farms is as rich and deep as […]

Fueling Tradition- The Stone Family
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 […]

Why I Farm – Oakhill Ranch
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 […]

Why I Farm – Wilbanks Farms
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 […]

Why I Farm – Oliver Farms
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 […]

Why I Farm – Haun Farms
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 […]

Why I Farm – Oswald Family Farm
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 […]

Why I Farm – McNeall Farms Inc.
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, […]

Why I Farm – Gastler Brothers Farming
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. […]

Why I Farm – Twellman Farms
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 […]

Why I Farm – Smith Family
Independence and farming go hand in hand in the Smith family. Justin Smith and his siblings, Aaron, Kenton and Betsy, were raised on the family farm in Northwest Missouri. Their parents, Mike and Katie Smith, instilled a passion for farming and agriculture in each of them as they grew up on the farm. “I am […]

Missouri Century Farm
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 […]

Why I Farm – Enowski Farm in Miller County, Missouri
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 […]

Why I Farm – Kelley Farm Faucett, Missouri
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 […]

Why I Farm – Hunter Farm, Missouri Bootheel
‘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 […]

Why I Farm – Alpers Farm
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 […]

Why I Farm – McCrate Farm in Portageville, MO
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. […]

Why I Farm – Durham Farm in Carroll County, Missouri
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 […]

Why I Farm: Bailey Family Farms in Pike County, Missouri
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 […]
The Squibb Family
“We’re doing everything that we possibly can to make sure that you’re getting a safe, wholesome product for your family because not only are you buying those products, I’m buying those too for my family.”
Shannon Squibb
Dairy Farmer
Name: Shannon Squibb
Location: Clever, Missouri
Years farming: Having grown up on a farm, I’ve been farming for as long as I can remember – about 37 years.
My family: My husband is Rick, and my sons are Ryan and Clayton.
How I came to be a farmer: I have had family that has farmed in the area for generations. I was raised on the farm where we now raise our family. I’ve always enjoyed being around cattle and met my husband while we were both showing cattle as kids.
The best thing about being a farmer: I love being able to raise my children on the same farm where I was raised. I get to be around animals every day and spend a lot of time outdoors. We get to be our own boss, even though that isn’t always a great thing.
My personal philosophy on farming: Do your best and protect the land for the generations to come. We are doing our part in providing a safe, wholesome food to help feed the world.
Dairy Production in Missouri and the U.S.
- More than 1,000 new dairy products are introduced every year.
- More than 10 pounds of milk go into one pound of cheese.
- One cow produces about 350,000 glasses of milk in her lifetime.
- Super Bowl Sunday rates as the number 1 day for pizza consumption. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is second, using huge amounts of cheese.
- It takes 12 pounds of whole milk to make one gallon of ice cream.
The Korff Family
“With technology and engineering, we have more capacity today to harvest a crop in a more timely fashion, and do it in a more efficient use per acre.”
Rob Korff
Corn Farmer
Name: Rob Korff
Location: Norborne, Missouri
Years farming: I’ve been farming now for more than 20 years
My family: My family is my wife Gay Lynn, our son Logan is eleven, and our daughter Jenna is seven.
How I came to be a farmer: My family farmed and it is all I ever wanted to do, and now I farm with my father today.
The best thing about being a farmer: There are many positive things about being a self-employed person like a farmer, but the best thing is doing something different each day. We get to be equipment operators, mechanics, welders, engineers, crop scouts, agronomists, marketers, accountants, conservationists, problem solvers, decision makers and use many other skill sets every day.
My personal philosophy on farming: Producing crops or livestock is very challenging and very rewarding at the same time. There are many factors that control your profitability and often times your ability to succeed is out of your control. Adverse weather, insects and diseases, government policies, global markets and demand for the product can all impact your bottom line in a negative manner. For the most part, we are self-employed, which means you have to be driven because where there is opportunity to be successful, there is also the opportunity to fail. You do all you can do, try to make the best decisions with what you know at that time, use the tools out there to minimize and limit your risks – and then pray that God will bless you and have it all work out.
- Missouri ranks 10th in the nation in the production of field corn, our nation’s top crop.
- In 2008, Missouri farmers harvested over 2.6 million acres of corn, producing 382 million bushels and contributing more than $1.5 billion to this state’s economy.
- Nationwide, farmers brought in the second largest crop in 2008 with 12.1 billion bushels.
- Corn is a component in thousands of products, and can be used to make livestock feed, food, clothing and blankets, carpets, plastics and pharmaceuticals.
- The United States is a major player in the world corn trade market, with approximately 20 percent of the corn crop exported to other countries.
- Corn is a component thousands of products, and can be used to make livestock feed, food, clothing and blankets, carpets, plastics and pharmaceuticals.
- A bushel of corn is about 56 pounds, and you can process that bushel into nearly three gallons of ethanol and 17 pounds of a high-protein livestock feed.