After a career in the United States Navy, Dennis Bailey returned home to southwest Missouri in 2021. The Bailey family established Arigato Farms near Everton in #Agri-Ready Designated Lawrence County. Arigato Farms is known for pasture-raised eggs and Japanese pastries. The family raises animals that are rooted in Japanese history such as Berkshire pork and Akaushi beef. Dennis and Hitomi Bailey are committed to providing flavorful food to customers in southwest Missouri, served with a unique perspective on how farmers can supply the freshest products. 

Naval Career Experience Abroad

Dennis retired from the U.S. Navy as a career counselor. He began his naval experience in 1999 as a gunner’s mate in combat systems, traveled to 26 countries, and met his wife Hitomi, who is from Japan. The couple were stationed there for five years. While living and travelling abroad throughout his career, Dennis noticed the differences of food markets in other countries compared to the United States. “At home in the United States we can shop at the grocery store for several meals. That just doesn’t happen in Japan. People only purchase the groceries they need that day,” Dennis shared. “It was an interesting transition. At first, I found daily shopping annoying. Then, I began to appreciate how fresh the food was.” 

The Baileys developed a unique perspective from living and eating in Japan, where many food additives common in the U.S. are restricted. The ‘farm to table effort’ is not new there and is present in more ways than we often see in the U.S. Upon Dennis’ retirement the couple wanted to raise their own fresh food and be able to share that fresh food experience with others. 

Farm Fresh

“Our goal is to offer fresh, flavorful products. People are better able to recognize flavors in fresher food. Some are interested in the Japanese history of our products. Some are interested in their uniqueness,” Dennis said. While the Japanese flavors offered by the Baileys are often available closer to the U.S. coasts, the family is glad to offer a cultural taste of Japan to customers in southwest Missouri. They are serving a growing number of Japanese students who are coming to the greater Springfield area and choosing to put down roots. Japanese students feel welcomed in southwest Missouri thanks to the good work of the Springfield Sister Cities Association, a non-profit organization that facilitates cultural growth and experiences through exchanges, activities, relationships and more.

Flavors with Japanese History

Arigato Farms is home to registered Berkshire hogs. In Japan, the breed is called ‘Kurobuta’. It is prized in Japan for its juicy texture, sweet flavor, and beautiful marbling. Authenticity of the product is important, so the hogs must be registered to prove their pedigree. “The pigs are very profitable for us,” Dennis said. “They are easy to keep and manage.” The Baileys also have sheep and pasture raised chickens. They previously delivered eggs to Springfield grocery stores, but when their son left for the navy, the farm became shorthanded. Arigato Farms eggs are sold directly to consumers. Dennis and Hitomi are working to build their herd of Akaushi cattle, known as ‘Japanese Red Beef’, a specific breed of wagyu cattle that did not leave Japan until the 1990’s. The Baileys are developing an American-style wagyu beef by cross breeding Akaushi bulls and commercial beef females. “Crossbreeding will allow us to grow our herd faster and save some of the expense of attaining the uncommon, full blood Akaushi animals. The beef we will be able to offer will have the excellent muscle marbling on carcasses that are a little larger so that we can maintain quality beef and be able to offer it at a more budget friendly price,” Dennis said.

Farmer’s Market Experience

Arigato Farms offered their first pasture-raised pork, chicken and eggs to consumers at the Greater Springfield Farmers Market. Hitomi prepared Japanese pastries to sell as well. “The market was great because we got immediate feedback week after week from our customers. They would tell us bluntly what they enjoyed and what we could improve,” Hitomi shared. Dennis and Hitomi agreed that meeting people was the best advantage at the farmer’s market. “A customer with chickens shared books to help us learn about our chickens when we first started out. I made a connection to the culinary department at Ozarks Technical Community College. The opportunity to meet so many different people is what makes the market so worthwhile,” Dennis said. 

As the Bailey kids got involved in high school activities, weekends were needed for family and extracurricular activities. Arigato Farms products are now only available direct to consumer. Dennis and Hitomi recently expanded their farm’s acreage and are building an on-farm store. They are excited to welcome customers at the farm to purchase their fresh offerings beginning in the spring of 2025. 

Inspiring New Farmers Abroad

Dennis and Hitomi have been an inspiration to Hitomi’s brother, who visited Arigato Farms for an extended period last year. He returned to Japan to enroll in an agricultural certification program; graduation from the program is required to be licensed by the Japanese government to purchase farmland. “The country has recognized a shortage of farmers and is encouraging the younger generation to get involved in agriculture as there are less and less people to grow their food. Students like Hitomi’s brother receive a monthly stipend during school, free tuition, and immediate eligibility for beginning farmer grants upon graduation,” Dennis and Hitomi shared. “Land ownership is very different in Japan than the United States. The government wants the land to be used correctly.”

A Tradition of Service

Dennis and Hitomi’s daughter is a senior in high school; she will begin bootcamp next year to work in navy intelligence. Their son is currently a weapons electronics fire controlman for the U.S. Navy. 

Learn more about what’s going on at Arigato Farms by following them on Facebook or TikTok. Arigato Farms is a member of the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Missouri Grown program. 

Agri-Ready Designated Lawrence County

According to the 2021 Missouri Economic Contribution of Agriculture and Forestry Study, livestock is the largest contributor to Lawrence County’s agriculture economy which creates $284.4 million in value-added products, supports more than 5,000 jobs, and generates $375.0 million in household income in #Agri-Ready Designated Lawrence County. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture conducted by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Lawrence County ranks 6^th in Missouri for poultry and eggs produced.

Lawrence County is one of 73 Agri-Ready Designated Counties in Missouri that are embracing agricultural opportunity, literacy, and economic development. The Agri-Ready County Designation program connects counties with Missouri Farmers Care to encourage and protect agriculture and secure it as a thriving component in our state’s economic future. Missouri Farmers Care is a joint effort by Missouri’s farming and agriculture community to stand together for the men and women who provide the food and jobs on which our communities depend.