The first inductees to the newly created Missouri Agricultural Hall of Fame were honored April 9 during a ceremony at the Capital Bluffs Event Center in Jefferson City. The inaugural recipients were William H. Darr, Jay Fischer, Blake and Julie Hurst, Charlie Kruse, and Forrest and Charlotte Lucas.

Gov. Mike Parson met with the honorees during a private reception at the Missouri Governor’s Mansion before addressing the 425 industry leaders gathered for the induction ceremony.

“Agriculture is the heart and soul of Missouri, and the recipients of this award truly deserve the honor,” Gov. Parson said. “To be able to recognize them and be part of this first-ever Hall of Fame makes me so proud of our state and proud to be your governor.”

The Missouri Agricultural Hall of Fame was created in 2023 to recognize farmers, ranchers and agribusiness leaders who have made outstanding contributions to Missouri agriculture. Inductees are selected by a committee and honored annually.

Missouri Agricultural Hall of Fame inductees received an exclusive award created by Missouri artist Clay Gant, who operates “Cowboy Bronze” in Cross Timbers. The custom sculpture represents the power and diversity of Missouri’s agricultural landscape and features a beef bull, wheat and corn.

MFA Incorporated and MFA Oil are presenting sponsors of the Agricultural Hall of Fame, which is also supported by the Missouri State Fair Foundation’s 1901 Society. The Society, named in homage to the first Missouri State Fair held in September 1901, was established in 2023 to recognize lifetime giving to the foundation. Other key sponsors of the Hall of Fame are Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Dairy Farmers of America, Allstate Consultants, ADM, Nabholz & Kinetic and Central Missouri AGRIService.

“The Missouri State Fair Foundation is pleased to congratulate the inaugural class of the Missouri
Agricultural Hall of Fame,” said Karri Wilson, Missouri State Fair Foundation executive director. “This is
just the start of what we hope will become a lasting tradition of honoring the men and women who make
up the fabric of agriculture here in the great state of Missouri. We are grateful for the tremendous level of
support for this first event, and we are looking forward to the future of the Ag Hall of Fame program.”