Farmer stories
From The Ground Up Pioneers a Shift in Who Leads Agricultural Research
For decades, agricultural research has followed a familiar path: designed by academics, tested in controlled settings, and results shared with farmers through extension networks. But across Ohio and Missouri, that model is being turned on its head by the From The Ground Up (FTGUp) project. This time, the ideas originate from working…
The Best Research Findings Come From Nearby Farms, Says Missouri Farmer Josh Payne
On 300 acres of pasture in Concordia, Missouri, Josh Payne is reshaping what it means to farm. What began as a conventional row crop operation tied to family land has transformed into a diverse, pasture-based system. Today, Payne and his family raise about a…
Susan Jaster: A Trusted Voice Helping Farmers Rethink the Soil Beneath Them
For more than 40 years, Susan Jaster has been deeply connected to agriculture, continually adapting, learning, and finding new ways to make the land she depends on healthier and more productive. She started out in the dairy industry with her family…
Shane Hartzler on Farmer-led Research: Farmers Listen More to One Another
On a sixth-generation dairy farm in Rittman, Ohio, Shane Hartzler is balancing tradition with a drive to make smarter, more profitable decisions for the future. At Cross Roads Dairy, Hartzler milks about 90 cows on a 300-acre farm that includes pasture. “I enjoy the lifestyle, the challenge of the…
From Service to Soil: A Veteran’s Mission to Build Better Farming
On a quiet 80-acre farm in west-central Missouri, Arthur Kanneman is building a livestock operation rooted in purpose, discipline, and a deep respect for the land. A 24-year veteran of the United States Air Force, Kanneman brings a lifetime of technical skill and leadership…
A Missouri Livestock Farmers’ Bet on a Stronger Future for Small Farms Through Farmer-led Research
In the rolling hills of west-central Missouri, livestock farmer Jan Van Niekerk is betting on something bigger than just a good grazing season. He’s betting on a future where small farmers reclaim their place at the center of America’s food system, and where science and…
Fifth-Generation Farmer Jared Barchak on Farmer-led Research: This is Our Idea
In gently rolling farmlands in west-central Missouri, Jared Barchak is continuing a family legacy while helping shape what the future of farming and agricultural research could look like. A fifth-generation farmer, Barchak manages a 280-acre, cow-calf operation with 75 mama cows that has been part of his life…
Missouri Farmer Adam Boman on Farming, Conservation, and Learning from the Land
On 160 acres of pastureland in Pierce City, Missouri, Adam Boman is building a farm rooted in both production and purpose, where livestock, land stewardship, and long-term sustainability are closely intertwined. Boman manages Good Life Grass Farms, a diverse operation, raising about 200 hair sheep…
Missouri Livestock Farmer Mike Kaiser on Real-World Research, Neighbors and Better Farming
On 400 acres of pastureland in southwest Missouri’s Lawrence County, Mike Kaiser is doing what he’s done his entire life. Raising cattle. But today, his work goes beyond managing a cow-calf operation. It’s about finding practical, proven ways to make that operation more efficient, more sustainable,…
Farmer Cheryl Wheeler Believes Doing Research “From The Ground Up” will Inspire Others to Follow
While birds chirp and crickets rattle between the tomato vines of Efinity Harvest Farm in Trotwood, Ohio, Cheryl Wheeler, farmer and co-founder wears a smile as she warmly talks about her experiences leading From The Ground Up (FTGUp) research. The farm produces fresh, organically grown produce…
