Dr. Wyatt Eikermann: HOME-GROWN LEADERSHIP ANSWERS THE CALL IN RURAL MISSOURI
Dr. Wyatt Eikermann, DO, grew up on his family’s farm near Bourbon in Agri-Ready Designated Crawford County where he recognized the challenges facing rural Missouri healthcare. He is an example that the family farms and ranches that provide the economic foundation for rural communities produce crops and livestock, and home-grown leadership and solutions, too. Dr. Eikermann credits his childhood on the farm for motivating his career to become a family physician at the Four Rivers Community Health Clinic-Cuba, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).
Motivated Into Medicine
As a young 4-H and FFA member, Wyatt showed pigs and steers that he raised on the farm his father established. He developed work ethic, responsibility for the land, and compassion for his community, but it was his mother’s career as a nurse that ignited his interest in rural health care.
“Our parents took us into St. Louis for routine health care, but so many of our classmates and other families in our rural community didn’t have that advantage,” Wyatt remembers. “Rural America was being forgotten.” Rural populations often delay care because they lack access, which creates significant hurdles for preventative medicine efforts.
Committed to Rural Missouri
“As I completed medical school, I saw too many patients being sent to the next provider, which drove up the cost of seeking health care-another barrier for rural families with limited resources. On the farm, I grew up hands-on. I wanted to try and fix things,” Dr. Eikermann shares. “I thought I wanted to be a surgeon, and I job shadowed in the ER. That’s where I learned that I just like to talk with people and help them find health solutions. When I shadowed at Four Rivers, I felt connected with their mission of serving underserved rural communities.”
Dr. Eikermann proudly provides health care at the Four Rivers Cuba Clinic, a satellite location of the community health system that was established because of local demand and his influence. His goal is to change the experience of health care in Crawford County and the surrounding area by better serving his neighbors and their communities. In addition, he actively operates Delhi Sustainable Farms in partnership with his family ‘after hours’.
Faithful to the Family Farm
Wyatt’s sentiment for the family farm hasn’t diminished.
“It’s a lot of work. Manual labor is relaxing to me. I like being outside with purpose. It is a great way to spend time with my father and siblings,” he shares.
In 2017, Wyatt’s commitment guided a new direct to consumer strategy focused on pasture-raised meats that has provided a future for the farm. The Eikermanns began finishing beef to butcher, Wyatt’s dad would bring a freezer truck to St. Louis, and Wyatt sold the product at a Farmers Market during his years in medical school. To diversify, they began raising broiler chickens. Now that Wyatt has returned home, the farm has a strong direct to consumer base for their products with plans to add lamb in the fall of 2026.
“Adding sheep to the farm quickly taught me my fencing wasn’t adequate. The sheep seem to enjoy foraging among the cattle, and they are a great addition to diversify the farm and meet our goals,” Wyatt says.
On Delhi Sustainable Farms
Eikermann beef cattle, chickens, and sheep live together in rotation for the benefit of each species, the land, and the natural environment. Livestock is fenced out of waterways to protect water quality. Keyline plowing reduces soil compaction and redistributes water without turning the topsoil. The Eikermanns have increased carbon sequestration, forage root depth, and forage production across their pastures thanks to this regenerative practice.
“Dad handles the day to day and I often lead big weekend projects,” Wyatt says. “Our farm is truly a family operation. We farm because we enjoy it immensely. Each member of the team works full-time or attends school, and we farm on the side.”
Dr. Wyatt Eikermann completed his medical residency and began seeing patients in August 2025. Four Rivers Community Health is part of Missouri Primary Care Association’s (MPCA) Rural Health Network. Wyatt is a founding member of the Cuba FFA Booster Club.
MPCA’s Rural Health Network began partnering with Missouri Farmers Care in 2025 to support the Missouri Farmers Care Drive to Feed Kids because healthy rural communities start with healthy food and healthy farms. Missouri FQHCs believe that connecting patients to locally grown foods and farm families improves long term outcomes and supports farmers who sustain our rural communities.
What is the Drive to Feed Kids? The Drive to Feed Kids is More than Just a Food Drive. Missouri Primary Care Association’s Rural Health Network is the newest partner in the Drive to Feed Kids. Launched in 2017, the Drive to Feed Kids builds collaborative partnerships among nonprofits, farmers, and agribusinesses committed to addressing food insecurity across the state. To learn more, including how to get involved in 2026, visithttps://mofarmerscare.com/drive/.
Info: Agri-Ready Designated Crawford County. Agriculture, including food, feed and forestry, contributes $88.9 million in value-added products, over 2,100 jobs, and adds $96.2 millionto household incomes in Crawford County according to the 2021 Missouri Economic Contribution of Agriculture and Forestry Study.
What is Agri-Ready County Designation? Agri-Ready County Designation is a voluntary program that recognizes counties committed to supporting and growing their agricultural industry. To qualify, a county must agree to support agricultural stewardship, growth, and economic interests. The designation helps counties promote themselves as agricultural hubs, attracting and supporting agribusiness. More information can be found at https://mofarmerscare.com/agri-ready-county-designation/.
As of January 2026, 82 Missouri counties have been designated Agri-Ready.
What is Missouri Farmers Care? Missouri Farmers Care unites the state’s agricultural community to support the men and women who provide the food and jobs that sustain Missouri. With the partnership of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association and 45 other member organizations, MFC works to ensure all Missourians understand the truth about modern agriculture, food production, and the farm families behind it. https://mofarmerscare.com/