MARTIN RICE: SUPPORT FOR MISSOURI FFA’S DRIVE TO FEED KIDS TRADITION
The Martin family’s farming legacy continues for a third generation: brothers David, Mike, and Tim Martin own and operate Martin Rice near Bernie in Agri-Ready Designated Stoddard County. This family business grows, mills, and ships quality Missouri rice. The Martins are committed to community. Martin Rice is a partner of the 2026 Drive to Feed Kids and will provide rice for Missouri FFA members to pack 250,000 meals for Missourians in need in honor of America’s 250th anniversary during the Missouri State Fair.
Success Built on History
David Martin shared that the Missouri Bootheel’s agricultural history is barely a century old. Prior to 1907 the area was a swamp full of cypress timber. Today the area is a 2-million-acre drainage system known as the Little River Drainage District. Its creation was an earth moving project more extensive than the Panama Canal and created one of the state’s most unique crop producing regions. Over the decades, a thorough understanding of the delta’s deep soils and unique landforms have guided Bootheel farmers.
Planting Martin Rice
Depressed agricultural markets were taking their toll on farmers in the 1970’s when government-controlled allotments for rice were finally cancelled. Many Bootheel acres are perfect for rice production but a variety of other row crops are also grown in the area.
“We would rather be a little dry than a little wet,” David explains. “The Bootheel is an ultimate drainage system; there is always water on the way, but it takes a long time to dry out. Rice was developed to be a semi-aquatic plant. Standing water irrigates and suppresses weed germination. We know to drain the paddies when most of the kernels have turned a straw color, usually about the first of August.”
Martin Rice grows Medium, Long Grain, and Jasmine rice, using natural plant breeding practices. The family business added a rice mill in 2000 to add value to their crop. Other farmers in the Bootheel help produce the rice processed by Martin Rice. Each fall’s rice harvest supplies mill orders for the coming year.
Rice Processing
In the milling process, rice hulls are removed first and can become livestock bedding or feed roughage. The originally brown rice kernels are polished, creating rice bran, another excellent livestock feed additive. Broken or imperfect kernels become high-quality pet food ingredients.
Martin Rice is dedicated to rice type and quality controls, keeping extensive records about fields and load information. The mill operates within strict USDA and EPA quality guidelines to protect the farm and consumers alike.
More About Rice
Martin Rice produces Jasmine rice, known for its enticing nutty fragrance. This variety is popular in Asian recipes and marries well with traditional oriental spices. The company also grows common medium and long grain rice, which is appreciated for its versatility. Rice is a good source of folic acid (B9), iron, niacin (B3), and thiamine (B₁) and is naturally fat, cholesterol, and sodium free.
For a decade, the annual capstone event of Missouri Farmers Care’s Drive to Feed Kids is the Missouri FFA Day of Service during the Missouri State Fair. Hundreds of FFA members volunteer a final day of summer to pack thousands of shelf-stable meals for Missouri families in need to be distributed through Feeding Missouri and its six affiliate food banks. The foundational component of these meals is rice. Since 2023, Martin Rice has partnered with this event, delivering rice directly from Bootheel farm fields to support the compassionate work of Missouri agriculture.
Mike Martin shares that the food packing event is an important reflection of the past and the future, “The Missouri FFA meal packing event is fun for us because we were all FFA members. It is important that FFA is still developing the leaders we need for the future of agriculture. The packing project is great of the kids, great for the neighbors that need it, and great for Missouri.”
“Martin Rice’s generous donation fuels the Drive to Feed Kids meal‑packing event at the Missouri State Fair. We are deeply grateful that their continued commitment ensures that Missouri families in need receive nutritious meals, and your partnership embodies the true spirit of community and compassion,” says Keith Dietzchold, retired Missouri FFA Advisor and original organizer of the Missouri State Fair FFA Day of Service.
Martin Rice is a member of Buy Missouri, the US Rice Producers Association, and the Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council. The Missouri Rice Council is a partner of Missouri Farmers Care.
Agri-Ready Designated Stoddard County
Agriculture, including food, feed and forestry, contributes $546.1 million in value-added products, $1.4 billion in output, over 8,200 jobs, and adds $522.8 million to household incomes in Stoddard County according to the 2021 Missouri Economic Contribution of Agriculture and Forestry Study.
According to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture, Agri-Ready Designated Stoddard County ranks Missouri’s #1 county for market value of agricultural crop products sold. Stoddard County is a core rice growing county in Missouri which ranks as the #4 rice-producing state in the U.S., harvesting roughly 200,000 acres annually. Rice is a staple food for more than half of the world’s population and 85% of rice consumed is produced on family farms. Rice land supports more than 100 species of wildlife, including critical habitat for migrating waterfowl. The highly productive Bootheel region contributes around $150 million to the state’s economy and supplies both domestic and global markets.
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/.
As of January 2026, 82 Missouri counties have been designated Agri-Ready.
What is the Drive to Feed Kids? The Drive to Feed Kids is More than Just a Food Drive
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/.
2025 Drive to Feed Kids By the Numbers
The 2025 Drive to Feed Kids provided over 720,000 meals to Missourian’s facing food insecurity. Missouri 4-H members provided 271,000 meals during the 4-H Feeding Missouri campaign this spring. Missouri FFA members packed more than 177,000 family meals. 4-H clubs, FFA chapters, and collegiate groups statewide expanded their local impact by providing 97,000 meals through matching grants. Through the Hogs for Hunger initiative, swine exhibitors and producers generously committed enough pork to provide 27,500 servings this year. Fairgoers also contributed to the effort through $2 Tuesday at the Fair, donating non-perishable food and funds equivalent to 49,000 meals.Over nine years, the Drive has provided more than 13.7 million meals to children and families across Missouri.
Drive to Feed Kids Partners
The Missouri Farmers Care Foundation Drive to Feed Kids is presented in partnership with ADM and Brownfield Ag News. Partners across Missouri agriculture make the Drive to Feed Kids possible: American Family Insurance and the American Family Dreams Foundation, Missouri Rural Health Network, Nutra-Blend, MFA Incorporated, The Poultry Federation, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, FCS Financial, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, Missouri Farm Bureau, Jerry Litton Family Memorial Foundation, Martin Rice, Missouri FFA Foundation, Forrest and Charlotte Lucas & Lucas Cattle Company, Hunters Moon Run N Gun, Smithfield Foods, Missouri Pork Association, Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives, Missouri State Fair Foundation, Midwest Dairy, Missouri 4-H Foundation, and partners the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri State Fair, Feeding Missouri and the contributions of many Missouri farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses.
What is Missouri Farmers Care?
Missouri Farmers Care is a joint effort by Missouri’s agriculture community to stand together for the men and women who provide the food and jobs on which our communities depend. The coalition of more than 40 leading Missouri agricultural groups promotes the growth of Missouri agriculture and rural communities through coordinated communication, education and advocacy. https://mofarmerscare.com/