Carey Portell: A New State Of Mind Renews Her Purpose

Carey Portell believes in ‘choosing a life you want out of the life you were given’. She is the beef herdswoman of the farm she shares with her husband, Greg, in #Agri-Ready Designated Crawford County near Cuba. She is a champion for mental health and a nationally recognized speaker. Since being involved in a devastating car crash in 2010, Carey has worked to re-find herself and her place in agriculture. Her new journey in agriculture and her new purpose in advocacy emerged after she attended the Pearls of Production for the first time.
Carey’s Reflection
As Carey eagerly anticipates the 2024 Pearls of Production, she reflected on her first experience with the event. “When I decided to attend the conference, I was lost in every way you could imagine. It seemed that my life only consisted of surgeries and healing and learning to walk. I needed purpose and to be able to contribute to my family. I needed a sense of accomplishment for myself.”
Carey vividly remembers the atmosphere at the event, describing it as a warm community surrounding her. “It was my first experience with a ‘women in ag’ group. I saw female FFA advisors who were sponsoring teenage students, there were ladies attending who were in their 70s. At age 39, I felt like I was 70 with my disability. As I sat among that community I decided, ‘There IS a way for me to farm. I have to figure it out and how to accept some help along the way.’” Her reflections highlight the power of connection and community, especially in overcoming personal challenges.
As the conference approaches, Carey is ready to embrace new opportunities and continue her journey in agriculture.

“I jump at any chance to promote the Pearls for Production conference. The workshops I attended and the connections I made there truly changed the trajectory of my life and my success,” Carey shared, reflecting on her transformative experience.
Pearls of Production 2024
Pearls of Production 2024 is a two-day conference. Virtual sessions on estate planning, backyard layers, enhancing value added meat marketing, and beekeeping will be held October 29th beginning at 6:00 pm via Zoom. The conference continues on November 2nd at 9:00 am with hands-on sessions to be held at the MU Beef Research and Teaching Farm in Columbia, MO. This conference offers a fantastic opportunity for women in agriculture to connect, learn and grow. Register here to secure your spot!
Carey’s Journey: From Challenges to Advocacy
At that first conference, as she sat contemplating her future, a thoughtful MU Extension representative slid a business card across the table and suggested that the AgrAbility program could help Carey find solutions for the challenges she was facing. Without hesitation, Carey became a client of the service which assessed her on-farm needs. With the help of recommended equipment and strategies, she was able to improve the way she worked around her farm.

“AgrAbility showed me how I could continue farm work safely and effectively. I had my old body in mind, not the new one I was living in. I couldn’t do everything, and I couldn’t do it the same as before, but I could do it. Working on the farm became my mental therapy.” Today, Carey is a passionate advocate for farmers’ mental health and farmers with disabilities. She actively facilitates discussions through the AgriSafe Network, striving to support and uplift others in the agricultural community.
Carey’s Journey: From YouTube to Speaker
Carey began her YouTube page before social media became the norm. She used it as an outlet to share her experiences as a woman and overcoming the challenges of her disability. She never envisioned herself as a speaker. She credits God for the urges that kept encouraging her to share her experiences, stories, and the lessons she had learned. “I remember the day that my feelings finally burst out, ‘Fine! I’ll do it!’ I thought. I was terrified and emotional. You would think that four years after my accident I would be able to talk about it rationally. But my entire first year of speaking was about purging and healing,” Carey shared.

As she navigated her own hurdles, Carey found that her focus shifted from her struggles to her audience. Her speaking engagements became opportunities to share knowledge, inspiration, and foster a sense of community. Carey shares through Facebook and LinkedIn. She welcomes followers to connect with her there. She uses her platform to empower others, showing that even in the face of adversity, healing and growth are possible.
Building a Dream
Three years ago, the Portells made the leap to relocate their beef operation to #Agri-Ready Crawford County. Since then, they have poured in long hours and elbow grease to build miles and miles of fences, sorting pens and lots. “It has been difficult to get the farm to working status; we have immense pride and joy in it,” Carey said.

While Greg works a corporate job during the week, he loves working weekends on the farm. He manages the farm’s genetics and breeding program, while Carey focuses on caring for the herd and maintaining records. The couple has a herd of 60 commercial cows that provides them with a calf crop to sell at weaning time each year. Carey has enjoyed introducing sheep to the farm, and Greg looks forward to training cattle dogs when he retires. Together, they are building a farm, and a future filled with passion and purpose.
Finding Gratitude in Everyday Life
“Make a conscious effort every day to say what you are grateful for in life. Write it down so you can see the good that happened today,” Carey encourages. Carey and Greg are proud parents of four adult children and doting grandparents to their grandson, Finn, who is almost 3 years old.

Carey loves horseback riding, but time spent in the saddle is harder than it used to be. These days, when she seeks a little personal indulgence, she picks up her camera and takes a drive, seeking out beautiful shots. The Portells are members the Crawford Cattlemen’s group, an affiliate of Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, and members of Missouri Farm Bureau. These organizations are partners of Missouri Farmers Care.
Agri-Ready Designated Crawford County
According to the 2021 Missouri Economic Contribution of Agriculture and Forestry Study, agriculture creates $88.9 million in value-added products, supports over 2,000 jobs, and generates $96.2 million in household income to the economy of #Agri-Ready Designated Crawford County.
Crawford County is one of more than 70 Agri-Ready Designated Counties in Missouri, all of which embrace agricultural opportunity, literacy, and economic development. The Agri-Ready County Designation program connects counties with Missouri Farmers Care to promote 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.