Collins Family Received Farm Family Award

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By Marlana Smith

  The Jay and Michele Collins family, of Lentner, were among the families honored during the 64th annual Farm Family Day, August 15, 2022.

  “It was such a great honor to be recognized. We appreciate Farm Bureau, MO Department of Ag, Missouri State Fair Commission and the University of Missouri Extension for sponsoring this event for farms across the state,” said Jay and Michele.

  Jay and Michele farm the original 750 acres from Michele’s parents, grandparents and great-grandparents located south of Lentner. They also cash rent acres in Shelby, Monroe and Macon counties.

  Jay grew up south of Clarence and helped his family with their feeder pig operation.

  “I grew up watching and helping my grandad, Jack Weems, farm,” said Jay.

  He graduated from Mizzou with an Ag degree, but always wanted to get back to the farm if he could.

  Michele knew she wanted to come back to the small community she grew up in and it was important to her that the family farm continued to thrive.

  Jay and Michele are thankful Michele’s parents gave them the opportunity to farm with them.

  “It would have been much harder to start farming on our own. We are very blessed to have family support on both sides,” the couple stated.

  In 1993, Jay and Michele started farming with Michele’s parents, John and Lavonne Magruder. Her parents took over the farm from John’s parents, Howard and Beatrice Magruder in the early 70s. Howard took over the farm from his parents, Willis Jackson and Mary Virginia Magruder in the 40s. John and his brother, Richard, continued together until 2007.

  The Collins family grows corn, soybeans, hay, silage and raise livestock.

  They purchased feeder calves to background on a yearly basis and have their own cattle herd where they raise and sell feeder calves.

  The family has raised hogs in several different capacities throughout the years, but for the last 20-plus-years, they have contracted with Chinn Hog Farms, of Clarence, to raise hogs in a wean-to-finish operation.

  After attending State Tech, their son, Cole, came back to the family farm in 2017 working full-time at the farm, as well as, establishing CMC Farms where he also contracts with Chinn Hog Farms. Their daughter, Carly, is a senior at Mizzou, where she studies Ag Ed and hopes to be involved with the farm after graduating.

  Michele is going into her 27th year of education. She is the high school counselor at South Shelby. She is also an adjunct professor at Moberly Area Community College and has been teaching Phycology for the last seven years.

  Jay serves on the Macon Electric Co-Op Board, Northeast Power Board, MFA Oil Board and Shelby County Restitution Fund Board.

  Michele serves on the Macon Electric Foundation Board.