Are you aware of the resources available from MFA Oil Foundation?

As an Ozark County farmer and business owner, I had the pleasure of attending, enjoying and learning at the recent 94th annual MFA Delegate Meeting in Columbia. The highlight of the meeting was Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe's keynote address that reminded us that Missouri is current No. 2 in the nation for its number of family-owned farms. Noting that the average age of Missouri farmers is 60, Kehoe encouraged all of us to get busy promoting agricultural to our youth.

As a newly elected MFA delegate, I want our farming community to know about the resources MFA Oil and the MFA Oil Foundation make available for doing just that. 

But first, a bit of history: MFA began in 1929, when a group of Missouri farmers banded together to form a cooperative,  one that would ensure a reliable supply of quality petroleum products at a fair price. For almost a century, MFA has helped Missouri farmers feed, fuel and clothe the world. Today, its charitable arm, the MFA Oil Foundation, assists rural communities by donating resources that help develop and strengthen organizations dedicated to education, youth, human services or civic endeavors. 

The MFA Oil Foundation has supported our youth and similar services since 1998. As a youth leader for more than 30 years, I appreciated seeing the long list of those who have benefited from this opportunity since its inception. I am currently helping two non-profit local entities apply for some of the MFA Oil Foundation resources that are available to qualified individuals or groups in our member-served area.

As someone who holds degrees in earth science and chemistry, I was also pleased that MFA Oil provides other practical services such as testing oil quality (i.e., machine health), solar equipment and installation, and needs-assessment for lubricants and fuels. 

I've been amazed at how few of my neighbors are familiar with these resources that are available to them. I hope you'll visit www.mfaoil.com or contact area manager Denis Dreiling at 417-753-9055 to learn more about the MFA Oil Foundation.

Cleta Sweeney, 

Director of operations for The Concrete Works, Souder