Frank O. Farmer, Walnut Grove, MO

Frank Farmer is the first recipient of the Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors Meritorious Service Award—established in 1989. For over 30 years Frank has been a reporter, editor and photographer featuring dairy farmers and all breeds of dairy cattle. In many ways he has been the spokesman for dairy farmers and agriculture in the Ozarks region. His articles and editorials in the Springfield newspapers have made Frank’s name a household word throughout rural Southwest Missouri.

Frank was born April 7, 1924 at the home farm in Greene County. He likes to tell people “I still sleep in the same bed, in the same house, on the same farm where I was born”. For almost 100 years the Farmer family has been breeding dairy cattle, chiefly Jerseys, and producing milk. Frank was given his first Jersey heifer, by his great-grandfather in 1936. This heifer was first in her class and champion at the Ozark Empire Fair.

Franks parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Farmer, were prominent Jersey breeders. Their Rolling Acres herd was well-known for its high producing good type cattle. Frank’s job was to feed the “test cows” and bottle the night’ milking. His pay was a registered Jersey heifer, Noble Dreaming Betty. She broke the state record for milk and butterfat production as a senior yearling, set a new state production record as a 13-year old, and in her prime was grand champion, on several occasions, at the Missouri State Fair and the Ozark Empire Fair.

Frank graduated from Willard High School in 1942. That same year he and his wife Helen were married. They started a small herd of Jerseys, using Betty and her offspring as a foundation. They farmed and dairied until 1953 when successive drought years forced both Frank and Helen to seek off-farm work. Frank became publicity director for the MFA Milling company in Springfield and Helen worked for Heer’s Department Store. She later worked for the recorder and the Greene County sheriff’s office. In 1957 he went to work for Springfield Newspapers as a reporter and feature writer. He worked with the highly respected farm editor of those days Tom Ellis. For the next 24 years Frank covered all aspects of agriculture for Springfield Newspapers.

Frank worked closely with the University Agriculture Extension Service, 4-H clubs and the Vocational Agriculture Departments of the Public Schools. His theme was the promotion of dairy practices that would help dairy farmers achieve a higher standard of living. Mr. Farmer vigorously supported, through his writing and speaking, the dairy industry in Southwest Missouri and all dairy farmers, helping to bridge the gap between producer and consumer. In demand as a speaker Frank usually speaks about agriculture “the most noble art of all.” He urges farmers to be proud of their occupation and way of life.

In recognition of his efforts Frank was selected in 1982 as the first recipient of the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award presented by the Greater Springfield area Chamber of Commerce. Upon his retirement from the newspaper in 1986, Missouri Governor John Ashcroft designated a state-wide “Frank Farmer Day” to honor Frank for his life-long services to his state and community. Frank has been active in community affairs, serving 10 years as president of the Willard School Board, board member Ozarks Food Harvest, Greene County Farmer’s Sales, the Salvation Army, and President, Good Samaritan Boys Ranch.

Now retired, Frank and Helen are starting a herd of registered Jerseys on the home farm. Frank says “This is to start again where we had to leave off in the 1950’s. Those were our happiest days and we want to relive them.”