Farmers, businesses honored prior to Ag Expo

Hard work reaped a group of area farmers, their families and businesses honors Friday. They were presented with awards before a sell-out crowd at the second annual Farmers Appreciation Luncheon at the Black River Coliseum. The event was held prior to the 33rd annual Ag Expo.

Awards went to LeGrand Feed as the Outstanding Farm Business; Chris Berry, Outstanding Young Farmer; Jane Yarbro, Outstanding Woman in Agriculture; and Benjamin and Michelle Nobles, Outstanding Farm Family.

Welcoming the group, Steve Halter, president of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce, thanked the winners, their families and city, county and state elected officials and in the invocation, he thanked the Lord for the “hard working farmers.”

Sarah Denkler, the regional director for the Southeast Region of the University of Missouri Extension, recognized the hard work the farmers do.

“Sometimes just getting in front of people and saying it is the best,” Denkler said of giving the awards.

Denkler explained a committee of between six to eight people selected the winners. The medal awards presented to the winners were crafted by the Puxico FFA.

Justin Norman accepted the Outstanding Farm Business award for LeGrand Feed.

“LeGrand Feed has been serving local farmers from all over the area since 1947,” Denkler said.

The locally owned business manufactures feed for various types of animals specializing in cattle feed and offers local delivery services to a number of Southeast Missouri’s farms.

Denkler said, “We should be thankful through the years LeGrands has became more than just a feed retailer. They have a variety of goods ranging from gardening, pet supplies, deer attractants, and lawn care items.”

In presenting Berry the Outstanding Young Farmer honor, Denkler said, the 34-year-old has been farming since he was “big enough to drive a tractor.”

Berry is a rice and soybean producer in both Missouri and Arkansas. He’s completed his 12th crop since starting his own farming operation in 2007. Berry and his dad Ronnie Berry still work together every day, they just operate as two different companies.

The young farmer describes wife, Hilary Berry, as fantastic. He credits her with doing the majority of the office work. According to Berry, they “have two awesome kids, Axel Berry, 5, and Ophelia Berry, 18 months.

Yarbro, recipient of the Outstanding Woman in Agriculture award, has worked at MFA Midsouth for 17 years filling many positions including bookkeeper, sales, and truck dispatcher, Denkler said.

Yarbro and her husband of 17 years, Ryan, operate a 1,650 acre row crop farm and also have a small cow/calf operation.

In their free time, they enjoy showing cutting horses. They have two sons, Zach and Cooper.

Outstanding Farm Family award winners Benjamin and Michelle Nobles and their 1-year-old son, Oliver, live in Poplar Bluff.

“Benjamin was born into a farming family, Benjamin is a fourth generation farmer and has been working full-time since 2007,” Denkler said. The family’s 2,000-acre farm operation produces rice, corn and soybeans. Prior to working full-time with the family farm, he attended Arkansas State University and graduated with a Masters degree in Agriculture.

In 2008, Benjamin and Michelle were married. Michelle is also a graduate of Arkansas State University. Presently, She is a full-time, stay-at-home mom, but prior to Oliver’s birth she was employed with the Poplar Bluff School District.

Benjamin is active in the community. He is a volunteer for the Greater St. Louis Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and a committee member of the Bluff City Mallards Chapter of Ducks Unlimited. Michelle enjoys crafting, quilting and is an avid reader. Benjamin and Michelle attend Fellowship General Baptist Church where he is Audio/Video Chairman.

Denkler reminded the group there also is an FFA Award offered and she hopes in the future, students will be nominated for the award.

Halter said he is excited the event has sold out again for the second year and it is “great to see we still have a strong agricultural community. He also thanked his staff Jeannette Townsend and Samantha Bacon for organizing the event.

Event sponsors were Greenway Equipment, The Bank of Missouri, Colton’s, Farmers Insurance, MHJ Insurance, First Missouri State Bank, Heritage Title Company, Legacy Farm & Land Specialist, LLC, 3 Little Pigs Bakery & Catering, Farm Credit Southeast Missouri, State Farm Susan McVey, Commerce Bank, United Country Birdsong Auction & Real Estate Group LLC, Gerald Czerwonka and Michelle Wyatt, American Family Insurance and Mossy Oak Properties Inc. MOZARK REALTY.