Author Archives: Laura L. Valenti
Harvesting Timber
Timber sales can create a new revenue stream Timber sales are another financial resource available to farmers and ranchers. Guerric Good, an agency forester with the Missouri Department of Conservation…
Remonstrant of the Good Ol’ Days
The Sunset Drive In has entertained moviegoers since 1951 When Larry Marks went to work as a teenager at the Sunset Drive In movie theater in Aurora, Mo., in 1965,…
Putting Knowledge to Work
Regina Scharff brings the skills and knowledge she acquired from her NRCS position to her own farm Former Natural Resource Conservation Service resource conservationist Regina Scharff is busy operating three…
Laura Copeland
Hometown: Pittsburg, Mo. Family: Husband Bill and son, Hunter (11) In Town: Laura Copeland has been a high school math teacher for 18 years. “I started at Buffalo High School,…
Gerald Francka
Hometown: Bolivar, Mo. Family: Wife, Tommie Jo; daughter, Savannah and son-in-law, Nathan; son, Kyle and daughter-in-law, Meagen and granddaughter Henley; son, Gavin In Town: Gerald has been a lineman for Southwest Electric…
A Legacy in Lambs
Jared and Bailey Frieze utilize a rotational grazing system for their flock of Dorper and White Dorper sheep. Jared Frieze and his wife Bailey live on 80 acres in rural…
Sheep that Smile
Brenda Tribble and her husband Darrel raise Babydoll Southdowns at their Rockin’ Ranch in Camden County, Mo. When Brenda Tribble speaks of her Old English Babydoll Southdown sheep, she does…
A Touch of Switzerland in the Ozarks
Adrian Buff moved to the , with his family as a child, but returned to Switzerland to learn the art of cheesemaking. It is a long journey from Switzerland to…
Generations of Farmers
Justin Luther, pictured with his wife Rachel and children, 12-year-old Addison and 6-year-old Tucker Wayne, continues farming on land that has been in the family since 1949. Justin Luther describes…
In Love With Limousin
Ken Ragsdell, pictured at center with his grandsons Ben and Micah, strives for quality Limousin cattle at his Ragsdell Family Rockin’ R Ranch, LLC in Phelps County, Mo. Ken Ragsdell…