Lonnie Reando and his family were named the 2024 Jefferson County Farm Family of the Year.
Lonnie, 65, has been in the farming business for 43 years.
“It was a dream I had,” he said. “I bought 5 acres, fenced it in and put in a couple of cattle. It turned into 7 acres. I bought a little more here and a little more there. Now it’s 212 acres.”
The Reando Farm, which raises cattle, is located on Big River Heights Road, 7 miles southwest of De Soto.
“My uncle farmed,” Lonnie said. “I guess I kind of got (the interest) from him. I liked animals. My wife and I put it all together.”
He and his wife, Angie, who died in November 2022, raised three children on the farm: Jeremy, 37; Emily, 33; and Jordan, 23.
Farming was Lonnie’s second job. He worked at the Chrysler plant in Fenton for 27 years before retiring. He then worked another 12 years in maintenance for the
De Soto School District and retired two and a half years ago.
“I did (farming) on the side. I guess now it’s full time,” he said. “George Hoffman (who also worked at Chrysler) is my right-hand man. I couldn’t do it without him. He’s been with me from pretty much the mid-80s.”
Jordan helps out a lot, too, and the neighbors all keep an eye on each other’s farm animals, Lonnie said.
A newborn calf stays close to its mother at the Reando Farm on Dec. 23.
Currently, the farm has 25 momma cows, a bull and several calves.
“They are having calves right now,” he said.
In the past, Lonnie raised chickens, but it was not profitable for him. Customers wanted their eggs delivered, he said.
“We always grow a good garden,” he added. “We still do the garden, but we don’t can like we used to. Angie used to can.”
When Lonnie worked full time at Chrysler, he remembers nights when he worked late and went straight to the hayfield after work.
“I’d stay out until 11 p.m. and then get up for work at 4,” he said.
Lonnie said the weather has always been the biggest challenge, like keeping the water going for the cattle when the temperatures are really cold.
The work, in the earlier years, was physically more demanding.
“I’ve got new and better equipment now,” he said. “I learned to buy the tools I need to take some of the workload off.”
Lonnie said he keeps cattle off a lot of the property so the family can hunt deer and turkey.
“My oldest son has 95 acres right next to me, so we have a pretty good place to hunt,” he said.
Lonnie said he doesn’t know what the future will hold for the farm. His four grandchildren aren’t really into farming, but he said they do enjoy riding through the fields to look at the cows.
Recognition
The University of Missouri Extension Council in Jefferson County and the local Farm Bureau selected the Reando family as the Jefferson County Missouri Farm Family of the year, and the family was honored on Missouri Farm Family Day on Aug. 12 at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.
“The selection is done in conjunction with the Jefferson County Extension Council’s Ag Committee,” said Mistti Ritter, University of Missouri Extension engagement specialist for Jefferson County. “(The Jefferson County Farm Bureau is) also active in selecting the Farm Family, and a program co-sponsor. They have an appointed member to the Jefferson County Extension Council who also serves on the Ag Committee. Nominations and recommendations are submitted, and the committee makes the referral.”
Ritter said the Reando family has been a long-standing contributor to the agriculture community.
Jeff Valle, a member of the MU Extension Council of Jefferson County, was the board member who recommended the Reandos.
He said they are a great, close-knit family.
“I’ve known Lonnie since kindergarten,” Valle said. “He’s always wanted to have cattle since I’ve known him. He got married, and (he and Angie) started buying land.
“They are really involved in their church and in the community. Angie worked for (the schools.) They are really respected in the community.”
Valle was impressed with how the children helped Lonnie with the farm after Angie died, adding that the family dedicated the award to Angie.
Since 1963, a Jefferson County farm family has been honored each year, with the exception of 2006, 2007 and 2021.
Each year, the Missouri State Fair sets aside a day to recognize farm families from across the state who are active in their communities, involved in agriculture and/or participate in local outreach and extension programs.
Missouri State Fair Director Jason Moore said the event highlights the impact Missouri farm families have on the economy and the state heritage.
Lonnie said he doesn’t normally like to be in the spotlight but appreciates the recognition.
“They were so good to us,” he said. “It was awesome.
“They had a dinner. We got a plaque, and we got to meet most of the Farm Bureau people.”
The Reandos will be honored again during the 101st Jefferson County Agriculture Conference (formerly known as the Soils & Crops Conference) on Saturday, Feb. 22, Valle said.
The conference, presented by the Jefferson County Extension Council and Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District, will be held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Hillsboro High School, 123 Leon Hall Parkway. Registration ends at noon Feb. 14.
The cost, which includes lunch, is $20 for adults; $10 for children ages 6-11 and free for those 5 and younger.
Ritter said more than 200 people from Jefferson County and the surrounding areas attend the conference each year to learn about agriculture-related topics. The conference will include educational sessions, exhibitors, demonstrations and a soil test drop-off.
The keynote presentation will be on wildlife habitats.
Other tentative education sessions include pond management; forest management for private lands; sheep and goats presented by Jefferson County FFA and 4-H Youth members; homesteading and urban agriculture; poultry; adding beef to small and new farms; enterprise budgets for produce and cut flower growers; container gardening for produce, herbs and flowers; beekeeping; and funding opportunities for farmers, growers and landowners.
For more information, call 636-797-5391 or visit extension.missouri.edu/events/101st-jefferson-county-agriculture-conference.