Author: Adam Buckallew

A group of adults and one child stand indoors in front of a colorful indoor playground, holding a large check for $2,000 made out to the Kenny Rogers Childrens Center. Everyone is smiling, and the date on the check is 12/13/19.

Caring for Kids with Special Needs

The Kenny Rogers Children’s Center in Sikeston, Mo., which provides a wide array of developmental and therapeutic services to children with special needs, has a new tool to design and create intricate prosthetics. In December 2018, the MFA Oil Foundation presented a $2,000 grant to the center to aid in […]

Introducing Work Horse™ Lubricants

Since its founding in 1929, MFA Oil has always taken pride in providing a reliable supply of quality petroleum products to meet its members’ needs. The company has sold a variety of premium fuels and oils in its 90-year history, and that legacy will continue with a new line of […]

Sharing Ag Experiences

For Gary Morris, the rewards of being an agricultural educator are all about the connections he forges with his students. Whether it is discussing how to balance a feed ration in an animal science class, working together to grow plants in the greenhouse, or training FFA members for competition, the […]

A parade of green tractors drives down a street lined with spectators. A man on the lead tractor waves while using a large yellow umbrella for shade. A young girl in a pink shirt watches from the sidewalk, holding a small flag. Trees are in the background.

Fair Season

County and state fairs, the ephemeral experiences that bring scores of people together for parades, livestock shows, carnivals, pageants and more, are a highlight of the summer for many rural residents. The draw of blue-ribbon competitions, Tilt-a-Whirl rides, funnel cakes and rodeos entices fairgoers out for fun and camaraderie despite […]

A farmer wearing a wide-brimmed hat and plaid shirt stands in a lush green field, surrounded by a herd of brown cows. He is smiling with arms crossed, exuding a sense of contentment and pride in his pastoral setting.

The Grazing Guru

Raising Grass-Fed Beef on Perennial Pastures Rip, rip, rip. The sound fills the summer morning air as red cattle indulgently chomp through a lush pasture on rolling verdant hills ringed with timber. Moving nonchalantly through the herd, rancher Greg Judy sports a broad grin. “That’s music to a grazier’s ear,” […]

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 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 […]

Author: Adam Buckallew

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