Niche Stops on 10th Annual Greene County Commission Ag Tour

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The 10th Annual Greene County Commissioners Ag Tour is taking place on Friday, September 5 and will focus on the Republic, Bois D’Arc and Ash Grove area.

The tour is limited to 25 or fewer people. Those invited include Greene County Commissioners, Greene County office holders, elected officials representing the area, and journalists when space is available. 

The 2025 tour will focus on the western side of the county with the following tour stops:

2025 Commission Agriculture Tour Schedule

  • Departure – 8:30 a.m.:  Start from Greene County Commission building (1443 N Robberson Ave, Springfield). We will meet in the circle drive outside the building.
  • 9:00 – 9:30 a.m. | Cassi & Bill Mounteer (Republic): Visit the Backyard Pantry, a homestead focused on self-sufficiency and local food production. Learn about sustainable gardening, homestead practices, and how these have led to a home-based business.

  • 9:45 – 10:15 a.m. | Missouri Berries Berry Farm (Republic): Explore a family-owned U-Pick berry farm focused on strawberries and blueberries. Hear about agritourism, seasonal fruit production, and customer engagement.
  • 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. | NuVenture Farms (Swine), Bois D’Arc: Tour a veteran-owned, pasture-raised swine operation with owners Jesse and Jessica Thurman. Discuss veterinary care, pork production, and local market connections.
  • 11:20 – 11:45 a.m. | Ash Grove Pharmacy: Attend the ribbon cutting for the Community Refrigerator project. This was created by Jasmine LaBlanc and funded by a grant from University of Missouri Extension. Learn how local businesses are addressing food access and community health.
  • 11:45 a.m. – 12:00 noon | Roots & Harvest Community Market (Ash Grove): Preview this unique community food market that opened in September 2024 as a direct link to local farmers as the first Farm Stop in Missouri. Hear about local sourcing and plans to connect farmers to families.
  • 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. | Lunch – Maple Lane Bakery @ the Back Forty (Ash Grove): Enjoy a taco bar The Back Forty.. As part of the meal, Commissioners will hear from four local farmers with niche operations.
  • 1:45 – 2:15 p.m. | Ash Grove High School FFA: Tour the student-run greenhouse operation at peak production of mums. Learn how students raise and sell plants while developing agricultural skills. Ash Grove has had an FFA program since 1919.
  • 2:45 – 3:15 p.m. | Patchwork Flower Farm (Springfield): A specialty farm cultivating 30 different varieties of daffodils and other flowers in a u-pick operation. Learn about niche crop production and local markets.
  • 3:30 p.m. | Return to Greene County Commission Building (Springfield)

The Greene County MU Extension Council hosted its first Greene County Commissioners Ag Tour in 2017. Every year the tour is designed to highlight unique agricultural businesses and efforts in Greene County. 

“The Commissioners do have to make decisions that impact agriculture in this county and this annual tour is a chance to educate them on the changing face of local agriculture and give local farmers and opportunity to interact with Commissioners,” said David Burton, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension and long-time organizer of the annual agriculture tour.

Burton can be reached by email at burtond@missouri.edu or by text at 417-848-3442.

Written by David L. Burton

MORE INFORMATION

Take the Engaged Neighbor pledge and become part of a movement! The pledge outlines five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge at https://nomoregoodneighbors.com. Individuals who take the pledge do get special invitations to future events online and in person. Contact the blog author, David L. Burton via email at dburton541@yahoo.com or burtond@missouri.edu. You can also visit his website at https://engagedneighbor.com.

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