Farming Side by Side
May 30, 2025
Written By Adam Buckallew
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 Colby grew up with a love for agriculture, and farming has been their dream for as long as they can remember.
The Dixons got their start with land passed down from their grandfather and mother. Drew, 44, began farming through a sharecropping agreement with their grandfather. Colby, 42, later joined Drew, and they gradually added acreage over time.
The brothers officially formed Dixon Bros. Farms LLC in 2018 after farming together informally for a few years. “We did it for legal liability reasons, but we were already working side-by-side,” Colby says of their working relationship. “We just do what needs to be done—everything flows pretty naturally.”
They acknowledge that while acquiring new ground can be difficult these days, they are committed to steadily growing their operation, especially with an eye toward the next generation.
“We would like to expand enough so that if our kids want to farm, we can make that happen,” Drew says.
Between them, the brothers have three children: Drew and his wife, Amy, have a son, Harris, and a daughter, Ida; Colby and his wife, Micha, have a son, Sutton.
Despite challenges like high input costs and commodity prices near four-year lows, the Dixons remain optimistic. They cite improving crop genetics and new technology as bright spots on the horizon. “There are always positives,” Colby says. “You just have to ride the lows with the highs.”
Drew and Colby support the cooperative model and have served as MFA Oil delegates since 2018 and 2019, respectively. The brothers value their relationship with the co-op, which provides them with fuel, lubricants and other supplies critical to keeping their equipment running. They also appreciate the cooperative’s structure and benefits.
“We like the products and service we get from MFA Oil,” Drew says. “Our local staff take great care of us. They are quick to respond whenever we call or text.”
Drew says they also enjoy “getting the money back at the end of the year,” referencing patronage dividends, which he says, “really helps out our operation.”
Colby adds, “It’s nice having a voice, too. We’ve had two board members who live nearby, and it’s good to know we have someone looking out for the farmers in our area.”
Outside of farming, the brothers stay active in their community. Colby coaches a local youth baseball team, and Drew serves on the Jamesport Junior Livestock Show board. Both are members of their respective churches—Drew attends Lifepoint Church in Chillicothe, Mo., and Colby is a member of Jamesport United Methodist Church in Jamesport, Mo.
Looking back, the Dixons say they are proud of what they have built together.
“We’ve been able to update some of our older equipment and get into some of the newer technology that I never would have imagined when I was a kid,” Drew says. “It’s gratifying to make those investments in our future.”
Colby agrees. “Just knowing where we started—with not a lot of acres—and to see how we’ve grown while working together as brothers. That’s special.”
When asked what they would tell young or aspiring farmers, the answer is simple: Believe in yourself, work hard and treat people with decency. That approach has worked out well for them.
“Don’t let anyone tell you ‘You can’t do it,’” Drew says. “Agriculture is always evolving, and so are we. There’s more than one way to get the job done.”
The Dixons will keep pushing forward, not just for themselves, but for the family who came before them—and those they hope will follow.
Photo by Morgan Jeffers