Each December, over 1,200 farmers and ranchers from across Missouri gather at the Lake of the Ozarks to reconnect with old friends, learn from national experts and debate policy positions for the coming year. The 2022 Missouri Farm Bureau Annual Meeting will be the 108th of its kind, a tradition unrivaled for its longevity and breadth. more

For Thanksgiving this year, many Americans traveled to be with family and enjoy a feast. It truly is one of our country’s best holidays, where we get to spend cherished time with family and give thanks for the many blessings we enjoy. But sadly, thanks to the decisions made under one-party Democrat rule over the last two years, this year’s celebration will be significantly more expensive compared to previous years. That’s a cruel consequence of Washington Democrats’ trillion-dollar spending spree, which ignited and continues to fuel the highest increase in the cost-of-living in 40 years. more

As we approach the holiday season, everyone knows how much damage inflation has done to Americans’ pocketbooks and retirement accounts. We have all been fretting about higher costs at both Thanksgiving and Christmas over the next five weeks. From pie crusts to presents, costs are skyrocketing. more

With Veterans Day freshly behind us, I catch myself reflecting on its significance. It occurs to me that at some point in my adult life, Veterans Day transitioned from a day in which I reflect on the lives and service of my grandfather and his peers in WWII, and my parents' generation as impacted by Vietnam. more

Rural Missourians have faced numerous challenges that have created a precarious economic reality in communities, including family farmers struggling with volatile markets, the encroachment of corporate-owned factory farms, and job displacement as factories close and move overseas. more

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the hectic nature of our everyday lives. Toting kids to and from school, activities at all hours, putting in a solid day’s work and getting meals on the table often means that from the moment your eyes open to the time they close, it’s hard to process anything else. Yet the world is full of other problems, including ongoing problems with COVID-19, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and inflation hitting our grocery and gas pump bills. It’s all just exhausting, and this is only a tiny sample of our daily concerns.  more

There was a period in the late ‘60s when the Beach Boys, desperate for a hipper identity, reportedly considered shortening their name to “Beach.” more

Summer temperatures are finally starting to taper off and combines are rolling across Missouri’s fields. From corn and soybeans to rice and cotton, this harvest will mark the end of an extremely turbulent growing season for farmers. more

A few months ago, I wrote about the ridiculous overreach of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which is rolling out a plan to force companies to collect and publish information about their “climate-related risks.” The new rule could force farmers and ranchers to keep track of every bit of carbon used to produce anything they grow or raise — an impossible task. more

I have been sitting on this column for three weeks. The beginning of the school year is always a busy time, not just here at the Quill, but at home, too. more

On Tuesday, I was one of more than 20% of Howell county who participated in a fundamental act that defines us as Americans: I voted. It is a point of patriotic pride for me that I can say I have … more

On my wrist is a faded bracelet made out of recycled plastic bottles that reads, “Progress not perfection.” I bought this gift for myself a little over a year ago to remind myself that … more

It’s been a rough couple of weeks. I think everyone can agree on that to some degree. It’s hot and humid, most of us haven’t had any rain to speak of in a month and everything … more

“Juneteenth” is an opportunity for all to reflect upon a moment in time of our great country! As we discuss the significance of this holiday, we are reminded of a dark period in U.S. … more

A member of my household, who shall remain nameless as much for the preservation of my own health and well-being as to protect them from potential embarrassment, once asked me why I had not washed … more

Little did I know when I wrote last week’s column inviting readers to share their memories of their senior year in high school that I would have cause to stop and think about a particularly … more

This time of year, my eyes are always misty.  I’d like to say it’s the fault of allergies, but the truth of the matter is, it’s not. It’s graduates. Graduation … more