Year: 2019

A close-up of a blacksmiths hand holding a hammer striking a hot, glowing piece of metal on an anvil, with sparks flying. The image captures the intense heat and energy of the metalworking process.

Timeless Tools

At 47 years old, Will Dobkins still remembers an age when things were built to last. Whether it was a television set, a vacuum or some other household convenience, there was an expectation that products would stand the test of time and regular use. And, should something go awry, there […]

A group of people gather for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at an outdoor event. The central figure cuts the ribbon with scissors, surrounded by smiling attendees. A crowd watches and photographs the moment, with signs and a building in the background.

Columbia Ag Park Holds Grand Opening

An overcast and foggy morning couldn’t dim the enthusiasm of thousands of shoppers who showed up at Clary-Shy Park on July 6 for the grand opening of Columbia’s new agriculture park. Nearly 100 vendors offering farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, baked goods and flowers were present for the unveiling of the […]

Jon Ihler - MFA Oil Company president and CEO

Reflecting on 90 Years of Service

In June, MFA Oil Company celebrated the 90th anniversary of its founding. If you look back on the history of the cooperative, you will see that the company has evolved over time with a purpose to return the most value to our farmer-owners. Some highlights include: 1929 – Initial bulk […]

A group of people smiling and holding a large check for $140,000 made out to Operation Homefront. They stand outdoors in front of an RV, dressed casually. The check is from MFA Oil, dated June 3, 2019.

Fifth Annual MFA Oil Charity Golf Tournament & Concert Raises $140,000 for Operation Homefront

The Fifth Annual MFA Oil Charity Golf Scramble and Concert raised $140,000 for Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization that provides emergency and financial assistance to the families of U.S. military service members and veterans. The event was held June 3 at The Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia and […]

A Big O Tires store is illuminated at night. The building has a modern design with stone accents and large, red neon signage. Several bay doors on the left suggest service areas for vehicle maintenance and tire changes.

MFA Oil Acquires Big O Tires Store in Warrensburg

MFA Oil Company, a Big O Tires franchisee based in Columbia, Mo., has acquired the Big O Tires store in Warrensburg, Mo., on May 31.

Jon Ihler Named Interim Chief Executive Officer

The MFA Oil Company Board of Directors has named Jon Ihler interim chief executive officer effective April 25, 2019. Ihler will be responsible for overseeing the company’s day-to-day operations of the refined fuel, propane, Petro-Card 24, Break Time, Big O Tires and Jiffy Lube operations across an eight-state region. Ihler […]

A Change in Leadership

At the MFA Oil Company Board of Directors meeting on April 24, a decision was made to take the leadership of the cooperative in a new direction, and Mark Fenner was relieved of his duties as president and CEO. Jon Ihler, MFA Oil vice president of sales and marketing, has […]

A woman kneels on grass in a sunlit forest, smiling at two German Shepherds sitting in front of her. She is holding their leashes and appears to be engaging with them. The background features trees and a clear sky.

Caring Canines

There’s something almost magical in the way dogs can bring smiles and joy to people, young and old alike. Just ask Diane Hudson, a veteran MFA Oil dispatcher who has worked in the company’s corporate office in Columbia since 1981. In her spare time, Hudson trains her beloved pooches to […]

A close-up of a black and white cow with ear tags in a barn. Another cow stands in the background. The barn has an open view of a grassy field under a cloudy sky.

Making Milk Great Again

As Barb Shatto strolls through the freestall barn where dozens of her family’s dairy herd are busy feeding, she occasionally pauses to greet friendly cattle. “How are you doing this morning?” she asks while bending down to affectionately scratch behind the ears of a curious Holstein. This ritual plays out […]

A rural scene is heavily flooded, with water nearly submerging a road sign for South 111. In the background, bare trees and farm buildings are partially visible. Sandbags and a muddy bank are in the foreground, highlighting the severe flooding.

‘A Constant Nightmare’

Flooding and Questionable River Management Priorities Put Farmers in a Tough Spot Doug Shepherd made a final attempt to harvest his stranded soybeans in mid-April, but he was forced to concede the remnants of last year’s crop were a lost cause. Shepherd’s fieldwork has been bogged down by seeping water […]

‘Green New Deal’ would be a raw deal for Missouri farmers

Suppose the “Green New Deal”—endorsed by several presidential contenders—becomes the law of the land. How would a law that bans fossil fuels touch the lives of real people in Missouri? To take just one example, how would it affect Missouri farmers? Under this plan, the federal government would commit to […]

A landscape view of a prairie fire with flames spreading across dry grass and up a hill. The sky is a gradient of pink to orange at sunset, contrasting with the darkened, charred land in the distance.

Rejuvenated by Fire

Each spring, infernos blaze across large swaths of the Flint Hills, consuming everything in their path. While fire would be cause for concern in most areas, on the nearly 10,000 square miles of rocky, unplowed prairie that stretch from eastern Kansas to northern Oklahoma, the flames are a necessity. The […]

Year: 2019

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