BeachBum2BarnHand

Small Family Farms, Big Conversations. 🚜💡

Yesterday, I had the incredible opportunity to be a panelist at the BioSTL Agri-Food Summit for Innovators—a room full of bright minds working to shape the future of agriculture. 🌱🔬

As a first-generation farmer managing a multi-generational operation, I brought the perspective of small family farms—the backbone of agriculture. While innovation is exciting, it must be practical, affordable, and beneficial to those who provide food, fuel and fiber to the world.

We talked about:
✅ The real cost of adopting new technology (Hint: It’s not just the price tag!)
✅ How innovation can serve both big and small farms
✅ Bridging the gap between tech developers and farmers—because if it doesn’t work in the field, it doesn’t work.

I walked away inspired—and with a few things to say:
📢 sustainability and regenerative ag are not just buzz words and can be incorporated on various levels (my square farm will not fit in a round hole)
📢 Farmers especially generational farm families have deep rooted knowledge and Erica SchwoepperReid Thompsoneat at the table when innovation is MOFB East-Central RegionuMissouri Farm BureausLincoln County - Missouri Farm BureausLincoln County Soil & Water Conservation Distriction must also be adaptable for a 500-acre farm.
📢 If we want to keep innovating and adopting new technology, we must collaborate, not compete.

I’d love to hear your thoughts:
🔹 What’s one challenge in agriculture you tNick Robertsogy can solve?
🔹 If you’re a farmer, what’s one innovation you wish existed?

Drop your thoughts in the comments! Let’s keep the conversation going. 👇



Some photos courtesy Nick Roberts

Special thanks to Erica Schwoeppe Reid Thompson for sharing their perspectives and MOFB East-Central Region Missouri Farm Bureau Lincoln County - Missouri Farm Bureau Lincoln County Soil & Water Conservation District for allowing to us to serve our communities.

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