Missouri’s Natural Heroes

During our state’s recent bicentennial many appreciated famous people living in our state. But which other Missourians have been heroic? What does it mean to be a hero now?
This presentation will describe little heralded Missouri heroes. It will also ask the audience to describe their heroes. We live in a time where we need heroes, especially in rural areas. This program’s particular heroes are conservationists.

Thanks in part to several state agencies, Missouri has been a renowned pioneer in restoring wildlife and protecting our environment. Many private citizens have helped establish a tradition of appreciating our natural heritage. Among individual conservation heroes: Thomas Hart Benton, artist; Daniel Boone, early explorer and friend to native people; George Washington Carver, agricultural pioneer, Leonard Hall, conservationist and farmer, Lloyd Stark, governor and nurseryman; Laura Ingalls Wilder, agricultural journalist and novelist. Others too depending on audiences. We will also explore Missouri’s natural areas inspiring these conservationists.

Missouri has great parks, sensible development regulation, protection of farmland, drinking water and natural resources. We need to appreciate those who created a heritage of conservation respected around the world. We need to focus on what we value about rural Missouri. This text is from the current bureau roster of speakers. I have compiled a list of about 50 conservationists in various fields. My goal is to add to this list while encouraging attention for local heroes around the state. This could be the beginning of a book manuscript.

CAFOs, Water and the Future of Farming

Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) have been controversial since they began here in the 1950s. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, there are more than 21,000 Large CAFOs across the United States. Each of these facilities confines hundreds or thousands of animals – at least 700 mature dairy cows, or 2,500 pigs weighing 55 pounds or more. About 90% of meat in America comes from CAFOs.

These operations affect air and water quality due to odoriferous animal wastes. A new organization, the Missouri Guardrails LLC, has been organized to give local jurisdictions the right to control pollution from CAFOs. Recently enacted Right to Farm regulations have removed local control of environmental health and large farm factories.

CAFOs have long been a source of debate in rural Missouri. My program will present background on the benefits of CAFOs (inexpensive meat, jobs) vs. the environmental costs (stinky air and water pollution). For some audiences, especially students, debating this topic can be a helpful exercise.

My background as a journalist, historian, Ozark hay hauler and agricultural museum curator gives me the desire to see and communicate both sides of this issue. I believe that informed discussion of CAFOs will be a popular and necessary program in rural Missouri.