What Missouri Agriculture has to Offer

    The first week in June I climbed onto a bus not knowing what I was getting myself into, but I knew I wouldn't forget it.  I knew I wouldn't forget the places I would see or the friends I would grow to love because of my MAbA experience.

We had the chance to tour Missouri State University's Darr Agriculture Center where students experience hands on learning with cattle, horses, and even soils. I had the chance to stick my hand in a fistulated cow's (meaning the cow has an intentional hole in its side for research purposes) stomach!

    Missouri Agribusiness Academy (MAbA), a five day trip touring agriculture businesses in a certain region in Missouri. The Missouri Department of Agriculture provides this opportunity to the top 30 sophomores in the state of Missouri each year . The Academy moves between three cities; Kansas City, St Louis, and Springfield. I got the opportunity to tour businesses in the Springfield area as a member of the 2013 MAbA Class. 

    We toured several businesses that provide a more organic alternative food source to the consumer. The owners of each business stressed that there is a trend spreading were consumers want their food local with the saying, "Know your farmer, know your food". The Academy sent us to a farmers' market, Urban Roots, Circle B Ranch, and many more. The farmers' market was like any other market, but one of their goals is to help urban kids in Springfield learn how to grow a garden and chose healthier options for groceries. They are also currently constructing a plaza next to their original location to allow more farmers to sell their produce.

 

An other business we toured was the local news station KY3. Some of us (including myself) had a little too much fun playing with the green screen at the end of the tour! 

     Urban Roots is a farm literally in the middle of Springfield! The property is a total of 1 1/2 acres but they only use 3/4 of an acre to grow over $300,000 of produce a year. The owners use Chinese high tunnels (mobile green houses) and rotate from each garden plot to the next. This allows them to grow virtually any vegetable from early spring (early march) to late fall (mid November). 

I got the chance to tour Circle B Ranch; a free-range pork farm. It isn't a tradition hog farm because they do not keep the pigs in a confined space, they let them roam in a pasture. I learned that agriculture opportunities like this is sprouting up all over the state of Missouri!

    Circle B Ranch is a pork production that raises free-range hogs. Free-range means that the hogs can run around in a pasture or wooded area, and not be kept in confinement (in a barn like many hog farms). 

    I ended this trip with many memories and 28 new friends (my cousin Dane also came!). The whole week I learned to listen for every point of view in a situation and that my view may not always be the best one. I was shown that the future of agriculture is as bright as the rising sun and full of hope.