Back Where She Belongs

October 25, 2025

Written By Natalie Kientzy

Lacey Autrey’s heart has always been rooted on her family’s farm.

Her father bought the land in Morris County, Kan., in the 1970s, and she spent her childhood helping out and imagining her future in agriculture.

However, after high school, her father encouraged her to broaden her horizons. Lacey went to college, earned a philosophy degree and began a career away from the farm—but something was missing.

“I just felt stuck,” she reflects. “I called my dad, and he said, ‘Well, why don’t you come work for me?’”

So, Lacey and her husband, Joshua, moved back to the land where she grew up and eventually purchased part of the farm to build their own operation. They started out raising cattle, growing soybeans and baling brome hay. A few years later, they added hogs and chickens to the mix.

One of their most innovative ventures was Oatie Beef, a direct-to-consumer business sparked by their curiosity about feeding cattle oats. They developed a ration of oats and alfalfa, and testing by Kansas State University revealed that the beef had lower cholesterol levels than chicken, turkey and grass-fed beef.

Over time, rising costs and the realities of small-scale row cropping prompted the Autreys to step away from soybean production. Now, they focus on their cow-calf operation, raising hogs, and growing alfalfa and brome for hay. Throughout these changes, one constant has been the family’s relationship with MFA Oil.

During their years of crop production, Lacey and Joshua relied on the co-op’s service to keep things running, especially during long days in the field. But what began as a practical partnership to have fuel on hand for harvest grew into something more meaningful.

“Going to customer appreciation events and hearing about the cooperative’s values really excited me,” Lacey recalls. “I was very pleased with how MFA Oil serves its customers and community.”

When Johnnie Howe, the plant manager in Emporia, Kan., asked her to become a delegate in 2023, she accepted the invitation.

“MFA Oil invests in the community and helps people directly,” she says. “It feels good to support a company that supports us right back.”

As a delegate, Lacey sees herself as a bridge between the co-op and her rural community.

“I try to think about everyone involved in agriculture,” Lacey says. “I want to make sure they’re familiar with the cooperative and know that their voice matters.”

She also values the opportunities and resources MFA Oil provides members, especially through events and programs such as local annual meetings and the Emerging Leaders in Ag Conference.

“They bring in such knowledgeable people to talk about everything from oil markets to mental health,” Lacey says. “We don’t always have time to stay on top of those things ourselves. Knowing someone is looking out for farmers is comforting. It really makes a difference.”

That kind of support is something Lacey strives to offer in her community as well. Alongside managing farm operations and raising two children, Lacey serves as the Morris County Farm Bureau coordinator, a 4-H board member and the president of the Dwight Public Library board. Through it all, she draws strength from the legacy she’s carrying forward.

“I love continuing the farm and ranch life that my dad and his dad started before me,” Lacey says. “There’s a sense of pride when I reflect on how hard they worked to keep going in this profession and pass it on to me.”

For Lacey, success isn’t about having the biggest operation in town; it’s about staying rooted in her values and resilient through change.

“Just because something’s been done the same way for 50 years doesn’t mean it’s the only way,” she says. “It’s okay to try new things until you find what fits your family, your farm and your future.”