Participants of the MoKan Ag Tour, August 19, had a unique opportunity to experience the diversity of Midwest agriculture first-hand.\u00c2\u00a0 The event is the annual kick-off to the NAMA Boot Camp in Kansas City, where new and seasoned ag professionals alike spend the day experiencing the many different nuances of agriculture in the Kansas City area.<\/p>\n
First stop on the tour was Wade Farms in Clinton County, MO\u00e2\u20ac\u201da second-generation, 15,000 acre, row crop family farm. The Wade\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s currently grow 100% waxy corn for Ingredion, Inc. in Kansas City and seed beans for Pioneer as well as commercial soybeans. \u00c2\u00a0At the farm, the group not only learned what it takes to manage a well-oiled modern-day row crop operation, they also had an up-close opportunity to see the farm\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s state-of-the art equipment and farm management system.<\/p>\n
Next, the tour took in the sights, smells and tastes of Shatto Milk Company<\/a>, a working dairy operation in Osborn, MO.\u00c2\u00a0 Currently milking 400+ cows, Shatto prides itself on bringing the best dairy product to the Kansas City market.\u00c2\u00a0 With award-winning flavors such as Root Beer, Cookies and Cream and Cotton Candy (seven flavors in all), as well as cheeses, ice creams and butters, the group had plenty of items on-hand to sample.\u00c2\u00a0 Shatto hosts more than 100 people each day, Tuesday through Saturday, for their tours, which includes a visit to the bottling facility and the milking barn, for a lesson on hand-milking.<\/p>\n