Rogers reflects on long career in agriculture

Saturday, January 22, 2011
Vernon County Farm Service Agency County Committeeman Earl Rogers retired this January after 40 years with the Vernon County FSA Office. Above, Rogers holds his plaque beside the other two members of the FSA County Committee -- Bernard Johnson and Belvin Legleiter. Tim Forkner was recently elected to represent Rogers' area in the County for FSA the next three years.

When the Vernon County office of the Farm Service Agency held its annual Christmas dinner on Dec. 15, 2010, they also honored Earl Rogers, 88, of Richards, Mo., and his 40 years of service to the organization as a committee member.

Rogers has been involved in Vernon County agriculture for six decades. He said, "I've been on the farm all my life. We came here in '51 from Colorado and been on the same place since." That place, where he and his wife of 65 years, Marjorie, a retired postmaster, settled so long ago is a little more than 300 acres between Deerfield and Richards. Rogers used to row crop and run some stock, but now he only runs about 25 head of cattle.

"I enjoyed working with the (FSA) committee on and off for 40 years," he said. By on and off, Rogers said he would serve three years on the committee and then sit one out before serving three more years. Even sitting out a year now and then, Rogers still gave 30 years of his time to the FSA. "I met some real good people," he said, "I like to make friends that way."

Rogers poses with his wife Marjorie, with whom he will enjoy his retirement years.

Rogers said that he enjoyed working with people. "I've enjoyed working altogether with the county and agriculture." he said. He called the farm program "a big thing" and said "the more we tried to do the better it was." Rogers did express some concern for new farmers. "It worries me about younger people farming," he said, "it's so expensive."

Rogers also gave many years of his time to other boards and causes. He was a member of the Richards school board for 15 years. After they consolidated with Nevada, he served five years on that school board. He was on the Vernon County University Extension Council and fondly remembered the beginnings of the McGennis Youth Center and 15 years of service on that board. Rogers was also on the Vernon County Youth Fair board for a three year period.

Rogers was also a member of the Stotesbury Grange. The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry was founded just after the Civil War and is a fraternal organization for farmers encouraging unity to achieve common economic and political well-being, according the organizations Web site. The organization is nearly gone from Missouri but still active in 37 states. Rogers said they used to enjoy going over to the meetings held by the Walker chapter of the group, and that he missed being a member. Rogers said it was a good way for farm families to socialize and keep up on the business of farming.

Not as spry as he used to be, Rogers still loves being on the farm. He doesn't get to town as often as he used to and that may be even less frequent now that he has stepped down. Earl Rogers doesn't think he's retired. " I'm not retired," he said, "I'm retarded; I spend all summer putting up hay and then spend all winter feeding it to the cows."

Farm Service Agency committee members are elected by their peers and are a representative voice for agricultural producers in the county.

The FSA representatives communicate with the USDA to ensure that national programs meet local needs. The committee members are responsible for making decisions regarding commodity loans and payments, conservation programs, disaster assistance and emergency program. Tim Forkner was recently elected to represent Rogers' area in the county for the FSA for the next three years.

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