Growing Together
February 26, 2024
Written By Adam Buckallew
MFA Oil and MFA Incorporated Hold Third Annual Emerging Leaders in Agriculture Conference
More than 80 young farmers and ranchers from Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa and Kansas traveled to mid-Missouri for the third annual Emerging Leaders in Agriculture Conference. MFA Oil and MFA Incorporated jointly hosted the event on Jan. 10-12 at Camden on the Lake Resort in Lake Ozark, Mo. The two-day, all-expenses-paid event brought together farmers who will lead the next generation of agricultural production with industry experts to discuss crucial farm issues and offer peer networking opportunities.
John Wright, who raises row crops and hay in Cincinnati, Iowa, was impressed by the level of educational programming at the conference. He says the speakers were “top-notch,” and he picked up several ideas from the presentations he plans to consider in his farming operation.
“The Emerging Leaders in Agriculture Conference blew me away,” Wright said. “The whole experience was wonderful and rewarding. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to attend.”
FERTILE BONDS
David Strobel and his wife, Kim, attended the conference for the second time. The Strobels operate a Concordia, Mo., farm where they raise corn, wheat, soybeans and cattle. He said the networking and bonding at the meeting is essential.
“We enjoyed the opportunity to meet with other young farmers who share and understand many of the same challenges that we face on our farm,” Strobel said. “One of the things I appreciate is the chance to talk with farmers from other areas. It’s interesting to hear how farmers from different areas of Missouri or different states operate their farms and how that compares to how we run our farm.”
The Strobels have kept in touch with some attendees they met at the inaugural Emerging Leaders in Agriculture Conference in 2022 and hope their fellow attendees made similar connections. Strobel recommends the conference to any young farmers considering applying to attend next year.
“It’s definitely worth the trip,” Strobel said. “The overall conference is excellent, and we’ve had a great time both years we have attended.”
VALUABLE TAKEAWAYS
Since she was a young girl, Brooke Schnarre has farmed with her family in Centralia, Mo. She recently graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science and decided to return to the family farm.
“Deciding to come back home to work full-time on the family farm was easy,” Schnarre said. Schnarre raises cattle and row crops with her parents and two siblings, and she has taken an active role in many areas of the
farm. She and her sister manage the family’s cow/calf operation, handling everything from spring calving to hay mowing and silage chopping. On the crop side, Schnarre helps with tillage, planting and harvest. She also manages the farm’s financial accounts and works closely with landlords and bankers to ensure the farm’s success.
She appreciated the conference’s diversity of topics and said the sessions on commodity marketing and family succession planning were especially informative.
“I’ve enjoyed my time at the conference and would recommend it,” Schnarre said. “It’s been an eye-opening experience, and I’ve learned things I can take home and incorporate into our farming operation. I plan to discuss what I learned with my family.”
ENGAGING OPPORTUNITY
Amanda Schuster farms in Blackwater, Mo., with her husband, Dustin. They raise cattle, sheep, corn and soybeans and run a custom spraying business. She said the strong lineup of speakers was a compelling reason
to attend.
“Any time we are away from the farm for an extended period, we have to weigh the time commitment we are making,” Schuster said. “The agenda for this conference was strong, and we enjoyed the speakers. We were especially interested in the soil health presentation because it fit our operation well.”
Like the Strobels, the Schusters attended the conference for the second time and encouraged young farmers and ranchers to participate in future conferences.
“It’s a great opportunity to grow, learn new things and broaden your network,” Schuster said. “Meeting other couples in our age range and connecting with them is incredibly beneficial. A wide variety of farming operations were represented, and we enjoyed getting to know the farmers who run them.”
Schuster said she was glad she and her husband could attend the conference together.
“It’s nice to be able to reflect together, as a couple, on what we heard from the speakers immediately afterward. It’s a great conference, and I would tell anyone considering applying to make the effort. We are glad that we did.”