Momentum

MFA Oil President & CEO Jon Ihler wears a blue checked suit, light blue shirt, and red striped tie. He stands in front of a blurred outdoor background.

Fairs Bring Us Together

County fairs hold a unique charm. It’s where people from all walks of life come together to celebrate the things that make rural communities great—hard work, shared traditions and agriculture. At MFA Oil, we’ve seen firsthand the value these events bring to local communities, and we’re proud to support them. […]

Solar panels on a roof in the foreground, with a house, large trees, and a grassy yard under a partly cloudy sky in the background.

BluSphere Expands Services to Meet Growing Energy Needs

As solar energy systems become more common across rural Missouri and beyond, BluSphere Energy is stepping in to fill a growing service gap left by defunct or unresponsive solar installation companies. MFA Oil’s renewable energy division is now offering solar repair, maintenance and warranty work—even for systems it didn’t install. […]

A vibrant field of multicolored tulips in full bloom under a clear blue sky, with a red and white building and trees blurred in the background.

Fields of Fun

From Pony Rides to Tulip Picking, Lucky Ladd Farms Entertains Children and Adults With a Message About Where Food Comes From Jason Ladd drives his weathered golf cart around the 100 acres of Lucky Ladd Farms in the middle of Tennessee, describing what it takes to make a successful agritourism […]

A group of six bison stand and graze on green grass in a field, with trees and cloudy sky in the background.

From Bombs to Bison

A Veteran’s Second Act The massive bull could have charged at any moment. Anyone familiar with American bison knows it’s best to keep your distance. A full-grown bull weighs up to a ton and can run three times faster than the average human. These aren’t domesticated animals—they’re the living descendants […]

Former Missouri Governor Mike Parson wearing a blue suit jacket, light blue dress shirt, and a pin on his lapel stands in front of a wooden paneled background.

The 2025 Missouri Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductees

The Missouri Agricultural Hall of Fame was created in 2023 to recognize farmers, ranchers and agribusiness leaders who have made an outstanding contribution to Missouri Agriculture. The Hall of Fame is a celebration of the vitality of the agricultural industry in Missouri. Inductees into the Hall of Fame are selected […]

A brown and white cow stands in a grassy field at sunset, looking toward the camera. Other cows graze in the background with rolling hills and a colorful sky overhead.

Cattle Theft: Not Just a Thing of the Wild West

In 2025, cattle producers continue receiving record prices for their livestock at local sale barns and auction markets. While many enjoy the spoils of their labor after years of discouraging events like drought and herd reduction, this surge in value beckons unwanted attention. Scarlett Madinger, the vice president of communications […]

Sunflowers Photo by Keith Borgmeyer a photo of vibrant field of yellow sunflowers stretches toward a red barn with an American flag above the door, set against a backdrop of green trees under a clear blue sky.

Summer Wonder

Across farm country, summer is when hard work begins to show. Months of planning and planting take shape in row after row of green—and sometimes gold. It’s a time to monitor, manage and trust in the process, knowing that every sunrise brings you one step closer to harvest. Summer doesn’t […]

A man shows three young women a potted plant indoors. The women hold clipboards and notebooks, and they all appear to be engaged in a discussion or lesson about the plant.

Making the Connection

Aaron Medsker, ag teacher and FFA advisor, probably impacts more students at DeKalb High School, a smaller school in the Buchanan County (Mo.) R-IV School District, than anyone else. Out of about 90 students in total, 51 are in FFA or in his classes. “He’s a good FFA advisor and […]

A group of people sits on benches outdoors, facing a wooden cross and a lake at sunset. The sky is partly cloudy and glows with orange and yellow hues, reflecting off the water. Trees frame the scene.

A Place of Belonging

Nestled on a scenic peninsula surrounded by Council Grove Lake in the heart of Kansas prairie country, White Memorial Camp offers something far deeper than a place to pitch a tent or paddle a canoe. It offers a place of belonging, growth and connection. “This land has always been a […]

MFA Oil Plant Manager Dan Schaefer presents a grant to Faith Bridge Executive Director Andie Jamerson (Moberly, Mo.).

MFA Oil Foundation Distributes Grants to 54 Organizations

The MFA Oil Foundation provides cash grants to nonprofit organizations that are working to improve communities where MFA Oil has a significant concentration of members and employees. In January 2025, the foundation approved $120,800 in grants to 54 organizations. Pictured Above: MFA Oil Plant Manager Dan Schaefer presents a grant […]

Two men wearing hats and casual jackets stand smiling in front of a large red tractor and farm equipment, with a silo and trees in the background.

Farming Side by Side

In the rolling farmland of southeastern Daviess County, Mo., brothers Drew and Colby Dixon are carrying forward a four-generation farming legacy with resilience and a strong bond that keeps their operation running smoothly. Together with their uncle, Lanny Dixon, the brothers raise corn and soybeans on 2,200 acres. Drew and […]

Aerial view of a busy shipping port at sunset, with large cranes loading cargo containers onto ships docked by the waterfront and stacks of colorful containers lined up along the docks.

Everyone’s Talking Tariffs

On April 2, 2025, President Trump held his “Liberation Day” press conference in the White House Rose Garden to announce a sweeping round of tariffs on 57 countries, including a universal 10% tariff on all foreign imports. Since that date, conversations around tariffs have become nearly inescapable. What was once […]