Q&A with Chuck Weldon
June 17, 2022
Written By Adam Buckallew
Chuck Weldon, a lifelong resident of Gallatin, Mo., is the owner/operator of Weldon Farms LLC, a corn and soybean operation in Daviess County. He serves as an MFA Oil delegate, an MFA Agri Services delegate, a board member of Harrison Township, and a member of the Chillicothe Elks Lodge 656. Weldon was elected to the MFA Oil Board of Directors in 2018 to represent District 1—Northwest.
1. How would you describe yourself and your farming operation?
I am 45 years old and married my wife, Becky, in 2005. I have a stepdaughter, Hannah, who graduated from the University of Missouri in May. My life and farming operation are quite diverse. My father, Jim, technically retired from the day-to-day operations on the farm a few years ago, but he still works every day and honestly could outwork men half his age.
When my dad retired, my wife and I formed an LLC for our row crop operation. We raise corn and soybeans in three different counties in north Missouri. I’m also a contract pork producer for Smithfield Hog Production. I’m a gilt developer and raise replacement gilts for the company. I started that shortly after high school. In 2005 and 2013, I added barns. We have 6 barns with a capacity for 6,800 pigs.
As a young child, I always had a fascination with the radio. I started working part-time in radio broadcasting during my senior year of high school. I went on to work at KFKF in Kansas City and became the No. 1 fill-in for the station. In June 2020, I was hired as the midday DJ at KMZU in Carrollton. I’m also an owner of Whitetail Fix television, a hunting show that airs on the Sportsman Channel.
2. Since its founding in 1929, MFA Oil has evolved with the times to meet its members’ needs. What must the co-op do to continue to serve future generations of farmers?
We need to continue hiring, training and retaining the best employees and giving them the tools and resources to do their jobs at the highest level possible. We need to continually provide superior products and services at a competitive level. In this ever-changing world, we must be proactive and willing to change with the times to whatever extent that might be.
3. What do you think sets MFA Oil apart from its competitors?
We offer a full line of products in-house, from gas, diesel and propane to our lubricants and our new solar division. We provide energy in many forms. I believe we have the best services in our business, and with our Petro-Card 24 stations, our members can easily find a place to fill up their vehicles all over Missouri and in many of the surrounding states.
4. Why is it important for members to get involved with their cooperative?
Involvement is essential when it comes to the sustainability of our organization. MFA Oil has dependably served the energy needs of our farmer-members for 93 years. We need members to engage with us so that we can learn what they need and how to serve them best. The cooperative model is an old-school model, but it is something we need to protect.
5. You serve on the MFA Oil Foundation Board and have had the opportunity to present grants from the foundation to various non-profit organizations in your district. How impactful are these grants to the communities the cooperative serves?
I’ve just started my term on the MFA Oil Foundation Board, but this has been my favorite part of my three years on the MFA Oil Board of Directors thus far. Presenting those checks, hearing how that money will be used, and seeing how grateful the recipients are is something that always makes me smile. I’m honored to be a part of such a great co-op that gives back to our communities.