We’re the Missouri, Farmer & Rancher Owned Supermarket

Ron McNear

Ron McNear is a retired St. Louis businessman who now works full-time on his ranch in the Central Ozarks with his wife Jane. He is president of Missouri’s Best Beef, and sustainably raises cattle for that operation. Ron is proud of his success in creating a true cooperative which was formed using a minimum of capital, with great profit potential for Missouri farmers and ranchers who raise cattle naturally-the way they were meant to be raised. His cooperative is a democratic model which includes very small family farmers as well as larger independent family farmers. Ron is working hard to make the meat department at Sappington Market a go-to place for natural meats.

Jim Byrd

Jim Byrd owns Byrd’s Berry Farm with his wife Sidney. Together they care for hundreds of naturally-grown blueberry bushes and an orchard which includes apple, pear, cherry, plum and nut trees. Jim also serves as vice-president of the board of Ozark Quality Hardwoods and is working hard to make that rural venture a success. Until recently, Jim owned and operated Byrd’s Books and Collectibles as well as Missouri’s Choice Farmers Market and J. Byrd, Antiques. He has retired from those ventures to devote himself full-time to his fruits and berries, Sappington Farmers Market and Ozark Quality Hardwoods.

Russ Kremer

Russ Kremer is founder and chief operating officer of Heritage Acres Pork. As such, he works with international clientele to promote Missouri meat products. He operates a sustainable farm in rural Osage County where he raises hogs using natural practices that serve as a model of sustainability. Russ is a visionary who believes strongly in the cooperative business model. A former agriculture teacher, he has a lifelong commitment to improving the rural way of life in order that rural youth will be able to stay on the land. He successfully lobbies for independent family farmers both in Jefferson City and Washington, D.C.

Randy Wood

Randy Wood owns Floating Farms hydroponic greenhouse in Licking, MO. He and his brother Russell have been raising basil hydroponically and hope to expand their operation to include closed-system aquaponics--growing tilapia fish and basil. Randy works full-time as business manager of Sappington Farmers Market, and spends much of his spare time forming relationships with sustainable farmers and others who have an interest in the future of a sustainable food system. Randy’s efficient methods have greatly improved the operation of Sappington Farmers Market and his compassion for independent family farmers drives him to offer them opportunities to improve their lives by marketing sustainable and naturally-grown Missouri products.

Nancy Smith

Nancy Smith recently retired from her business of 35 years — Herbal Comfort Herb Nursery and Greenhouse. She is also experienced in truck gardening and raising cattle. In 1980, she and her family left the city to practice organic farming on a 225-acre farm in Ripley County. Although she is no longer actively farming, she continues to work for a better way of life for independent family farmers.

Since the purchase of Sappington Farmers Market, she has worked as marketing director for the store. Nancy is a free-lance writer, and has written extensively for “Heirloom Gardener”, a magazine devoted to heirloom varieties, organic methods, and sustaining a healthy rural life and safe food system. She works with many organizations which provide a voice for the under-served and seek to educate consumers about the foods they eat.

Bryce Oates

Bryce Oates grew up on a farm near Adrian, MO (between Joplin and Kansas
City) and graduated from the University of Missouri at Columbia. His family raised cattle and had their own butcher shop. He grows vegetables organically and has provided some of the vegetables which Sappington Farmers Market is supplying to the Maplewood-Richmond Heights school district. Bryce is a successful agricultural grant writer, as well as writing business plans for independent farmers and cooperatives. His wife, Jenny, has an independent radio program in Columbia which helps give a voice to small farmers and organic growers. Bryce and Jenny hope to be able to raise their two small boys on the farm and to provide safe, healthy foods for them as they grow up.