Magazine Issue: Summer 2023

Momentum Magazine >> Summer 2023

Articles

A person in a gray suit smiles confidently with arms crossed, standing outdoors in front of a large truck. The sky is clear and the trees show autumn foliage. The truck is white and blue with red accents.

Liquid Fuels Still Matter

If you thought efforts to reduce carbon emissions in transportation were limited to electric vehicles, that would be understandable given the press coverage EVs have received in recent years. The reality is that a broad mix of sustainable energy, including liquid fuels, will play a pivotal role in curbing greenhouse […]

A blue and white propane delivery truck labeled MFA Oil, driven by a professional with Federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT), travels down a rural gravel road surrounded by grassy fields and large trees.

Training for the Road

New Federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements went into effect on Feb. 7, 2022, establishing a single national standard for obtaining a commercial driver’s license. The regulations set a baseline for training requirements for drivers seeking to:• obtain a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time;• upgrade […]

A smiling couple stands in a lush garden at Long Row Lavender, in front of a white, barn-like building. The man wears a light shirt and jeans while the woman, wearing a striped dress, gazes at him affectionately. Vibrant purple flowers bloom in the foreground.

Scented Splendor

Long Row Lavender Allows Guests to Relax with an Ancient Herb On a brilliant May morning, Tracy Smith led a group of 10 ladies through rows of lavender—her farm’s signature crop in rural Warren County, Mo. While she discussed the do’s and don’ts of growing the fragrant shrub, she encouraged […]

A close-up of a black vulture showcases its textured dark feathers and sharp curved beak, capturing the focused expression against a moody dark background. The essence of black vultures is embodied in this striking portrait.

Vulture Vexation

Six years after Charlie Besher’s first experience with black vultures, the memory of the encounter remains vivid. He and his wife, Donnia, were checking on their cattle in Perry County, Mo., when they came upon a grisly scene. At least 20 vultures were ravaging the corpse of a newborn calf […]

Investments for the Future

Much has changed in the nearly 100 years since MFA Oil Company’s founding, but the need for a dependable energy supplier remains as vital as ever for the cooperative’s farmer-owners. MFA Oil understands the importance of investing in infrastructure to ensure the success of its member-owners. The cooperative is committed […]

Round hay bales, freshly formed from mowing hay, line a grassy field under a dramatic sunset sky. Sunrays pierce through scattered clouds, casting a warm glow. In the foreground, pink clover flowers stand amidst the green grass.

Mowing Hay Low May Cost Money, Time

There are many reasons to avoid cutting low when mowing hay, but money is the main one, said University of Missouri Extension agronomist Tim Schnakenberg. Schnakenberg recommends a height of 4 inches for cool-season grasses like tall fescue, bromegrass, orchardgrass and Timothy and 8 inches for native warm-season grasses. Typically, […]

Q&A with Marion Kertz of the MFA Oil Board of Directors

Marion Kertz of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., is a retired farmer who has turned his farming operations in both Missouri and Illinois over to his two sons and nephew. He has been an MFA Oil delegate since 1997 and was elected to the Board of Directors in 2011. He served as […]

A small outdoor gas station with a white canopy displaying MFA Oil branding offers seamless fuel experiences. Featuring two fuel pumps surrounded by a concrete area, the site boasts recent payment upgrades amid trees and a clear blue sky with scattered clouds in the background.

Payment Upgrades at Petro-Card 24

A major upgrade to the credit card readers at MFA Oil Petro-Card 24 locations is nearing completion. The company has activated chip card readers and pin pads at more than 75% of its Petro-Card 24 fueling sites. The MFA Oil maintenance team is visiting each site to verify that the […]

Two men proudly hold a sign reading Missouri High School BBQ Association 2022 1st Place Ribs at an Osceola event. The man on the left sports a green plaid shirt, while the man on the right dons a camo jacket. Behind them, a yellow wall and counter set the scene.

Project-Baste Learning

Osceola students win national BBQ championship. National champion. That’s something few Missouri FFA chapters achieve. National food champion. That’s something no Missouri FFA chapter has ever achieved until the Osceola High School FFA BBQ team, directed by Charles (“Chuck”) Simpson, did so at the World Food Championship in Dallas in […]

Illustration of a large two-story building with a gabled roof resembling a Ronald McDonald House, featuring a covered entrance and a parked car. The welcoming structure is surrounded by lush greenery and set against a partly cloudy sky.

Building Love, Expanding Hope

More lodging and support space will soon be available for families traveling to central Missouri to seek medical care for their children. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mid-Missouri has begun constructing a new, larger home at the corner of South College Avenue and Stadium Boulevard in Columbia. The charity is […]

Three people stand in front of a large green tractor under a partly cloudy sky. They wear casual clothing, including hats and hoodies, and are smiling at the camera. The Gillilands appear ready for another day on the farm, embracing both work and camaraderie in their rustic setting.

Call to Farming Keeps Historic Kansas Farm Going

The Gilliland family has roots running deep in the gently rolling hills of eastern Kansas. Five generations of Gillilands have cultivated the sandy loam in Miami County. Here, along the gravel roads bordered by fields of row crops and pasture, the family has proudly farmed the land since 1896. In […]

Close-up of a Benjamin Franklin portrait from a U.S. hundred-dollar bill, overlaid with a red zigzag line resembling an upward stock market graph, symbolizing resilience despite recessionary pressures.

Recessionary Questions Remain

Recession, recession, recession. I have been thinking and writing about this for years now. Have we already had one? Are we in one now? Are we going to have one? These are important questions, and if you ask around, you could find someone who thinks the answer is yes to […]