Mar
25

Audrain County Economy

No matter how small a county is, it contributes to the overall economy of the country and Audrain County is no exception. This small, rural county is located towards the Northeast of Missouri. It has a sizable population of approximately 26,000 people. In terms of distances, Audrain County is around an hour and half away from St. Louis and approximately 3 hours to Kansas City.

Audrain County’s economy has exceeded that of Missouri on several occasions. It has shown tremendous economic growth in the past decade and has been a forerunner in the Missouri economy with Mexico City as its county seat.

What gives the economy an advantage is its location close to the four-lane highways of U.S. Highway 54 as well as Interstate I-70. This makes it a centralized location for the expansion of many large manufacturing companies. In fact, manufacturing is now the backbone of this economy and is gradually surpassing agriculture in terms of economic relevance for the zone.

The county is also a major railhead when it comes to goods shipping and movement of products via rail. The nearby Mexico county seat has an FAA airport that is unregulated. Its two runways have also given the area the ability to entertain corporate landings. Several manufacturing companies have made inroads in Audrain County. These are largely technology based. This region is famous for production of pharmaceutical products as well as those automobile related. Diverse products such as airplane kits and fittings for vinyl windows are made here too. Five years ago, Audrain County inaugurated its first bio-diesel based plant.

Feb
16

Time To Relocate

You are happy in your job.  You are good at it, your work is appreciated, and you have a career that you love.  The boss calls you into the office.  He tells you that they are planning on expanding.  They are so happy with your work that you are being offered the chance to head the new company.  More money, more perks, a company car and the chance to take your expertise to an entire new division of the company, in another state.  It is a huge decision.  While all the job aspects of the new position sound great, there is a family to consider.  A family who has made a lifetime here in this location, a family who would be resistant to change all of that for a company car and a few extra bucks.

Your kids would have to attend a new school, your wife would be leaving all of her friends, you would be leaving neighbors and relationships that you have spent a significant amount of time nurturing.  This is home.  What to do?  You and your wife need to make this decision together.  Maybe it is the right time for a move.  Maybe the kids will be in between schools and it is a good time to make the move to a new school.  Even if the kids are not thrilled with the idea, if you and your wife make the decision that this is the best thing for your family, your children will adjust.  They will make new friends and so will you.  The new school may be better than the old one.  A new home, a new environment does not have to be sad, it may just be the adventure of a lifetime.

Jan
29

Audrain County: A Great Place for Agriculture

Over the course of United States history, we have transitioned from being primarily an agrarian culture in which most people are engaged in some kind of food production activity to having less than 2% of our population working in an agricultural profession. For those who are attracted to a life where attention to the cycles of the seasons and a life outdoors are still possible, Audrain County is the perfect location. Pigs and cattle are the primary livestock of this area, and grains and soybean production are essential to the local economy. Youngsters can participate in any one of eight local 4-H clubs to learn the basics of production, and adults can join Young Farmers, Audrain Pork Producers, and rely on an active local Cooperative Extension Service. With all the fresh beef and pork, Audrain County boasts a delicious Kansas City-style barbecue, with its thick tomato and molasses-based sauce.

For those interested in starting their own fruit or vegetable production enterprise, Audrain County has the warm, humid climate of a southern state that is ideal for many crops, with relatively low real estate prices. The average price of land is well under $10,000 per acre, so it provides a great environment to start a small intensive production-oriented operation. It is also possible to find farms and ranches for rent for those who may not yet have the capital to purchase land. Each Saturday from May-October, growers can sell their produce at the Mexico Area Farmers’ Market. There are also several markets in nearby Boone County. What could be better than a delicious pulled pork sandwich with fresh sweet corn and tomatoes? It is hard to imagine. In addition to having many agricultural associations to turn to for assistance, farmers can also join the Mexico Chamber of Commerce, which provides publicity for all local businesses.

Jan
13

Firebrick Forms the Foundation of Audrain County

Audrain County was a major center of firebrick for over a hundred years. This industry helped to support generations of residents, much like the auto industry in Detroit. Firebrick may not be a household world, but it is a very important item. Firebrick is a piece of ceramic material that is used to line hotspots like kilns, fireplaces, and furnaces. It is able to withstand tremendous changes in temperature and it keeps heat in, so it provides an efficient heat source for those living in cold climates and those who produce ceramic goods. Firebrick is made by molding a clay that is mined from deep earth and has high amounts of aluminimum and silicon dioxide into a brick. The brick is then is baked at very high temperatures until it reaches a state that is similar to glass.

The Audrain County Historical Society commemorated the importance of firebrick in the local economy by starting a Firebrick Museum in May of 2008. The museum collection includes an A.P. Green Pugmill, which is a sort of cement mixer for formulating firebrick. Pugmills are important to the pottery industry, and A.P. Green was a prosperous firebrick maker during the early 20th century. Green was responsible for developing the firebrick industry in the Audrain County seat of Mexico by using its large natural deposits of fireclay. The Firebrick Museum also has an exhibit of a Diaspore Boulder. Diaspore is aluminum oxide hydroxide, and is an important raw material in the production of firebrick. There has been no firebrick production in Audrain County in several years because the needs of industry have changed. However, this area is a very important touchstone in the history of American industry and the development of ceramics, so it is of great interest to engineers and others in related fields.

Nov
09

Corn Harvest in Audrain County

Image via Wikipedia

Missouri saw a full swinging harvesting activity in the month of October. Phil Gastler, a farmer by profession invited the local media over to his farm. He wanted the media to witness the corn harvesting in his farm. It allowed the media to understand the status quo of harvesting that was happening in Audrain County.

The farm is spread over an area of over six thousand acres. Wheat was the traditional crop all year, but this year saw a change in strategies. Wheat was replaced by corn. The rides were sponsored by a company specializing in corn seed. The Corn Belt in Audrain County saw more of such combine rides. All these efforts were to promote the farming of corn.

Phil Gastler told the media that corn harvesting is indeed profitable. Corn harvesters have outpaced other harvesters. All that was needed was approaching the harvesting process in the right fashion. If done right, the returns can be phenomenal.

Missouri experienced torrential rains. Some of the fields could not bear the brunt of the brutality of the rains, and failed due to the downpour-stress created by the rain. Unfortunately many farmers had to pull out the old crops, and seed new ones. These efforts created a re-work scenario. But the good thing was that replanting the crops got it to grow taller, and yield more produce.

Heavy rains wash away the nitrogen that is need for corn farming. Nitrogen is the main ingredient of corn farming, and when heavy rains come nitrogen is washed away. Farmers supplement this with an artificial supply of nitrogen in the manure, but this is again expensive. The best thing would be to have light rains and not torrential rains. Light rains ensure that crops have water to grow, and also get the nitrogen to not wash away.

Corn farming is experiencing an upsurge in Audrain County. Farmers are feeling more confident of turning their fields into verdant spans of fledgling corn.

Nov
07

Thanksgiving Events Around the US

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 1979
Image via Wikipedia

Celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving commemorates a feast held between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag in 1621. Today, people celebrate Thanksgiving in a variety of different ways throughout the country. Thanksgiving is an event for family and friends to gather, enjoy good food, and commemorate everything for which they are thankful. Individuals and families choose to celebrate Thanksgiving in different ways based on their own distinct family traditions.

Thanksgiving Day Parades

  • The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade brings in more than three million visitors along with an additional 50 million viewers on television. The parade is a 3-hour long event that features marching bands, giant balloons, and parade floats that walk from 77th street at Central Park West down to 7th Avenue and 34th, covering 2.65 miles.
  • Numerous other parades take place on Thanksgiving Day, including the Winternational Thanksgiving Day Parade in Miami, The McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago, the Annual Mother Goose Parade in San Diego, and the Fountain Hills Thanksgiving Parade in Phoenix.

Thanksgiving Classic

Sports traditions are common on Thanksgiving, as well, which is true with the Thanksgiving Classic. The National Football Association hosts this annual event and has been doing so since 1920. The classic pairs three games with tailgate parties, cheerleading routines, and celebrity performers.

World’s Largest Disco

Hosted in Buffalo, New York, the World’s Largest Disco takes place at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center and brings thousands of disco enthusiasts to the dance floor. Guest appearances are common, with visits from beloved 1970s television, movie, and music stars.

Turkey Trots

  • Turkey trots are family-oriented walking, running, and jogging events.
  • Some turkey trot events raise money for special organizations and special causes, while others are for fun and enjoyment.
  • Schools, churches, charities, businesses, and other organizations host turkey trots across the U.S.
  • Turkey trots take place in cities large and small, including annual runs in San Diego, California; Southport, Connecticut; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Raleigh, North Carolina; Las Vegas, Nevada; Austin, Texas; and Surfside Beach, South Carolina.

Turkey Hunts

Turkey hunts and turkey shootouts allow families to hunt for their own turkeys. Many of these events collect funds for charitable purposes, with the proceeds going to special causes and organizations. These events bring families and friends together for the age-old tradition of hunting the turkey prior to cooking and eating it.

Turkey Shoots

In small U.S. towns, turkey shoots are a popular way to trade participation in a shooting contest for a turkey. Participants shoot at wooden targets, and those with the highest scores win birds. In Bartlett, Tennessee, participants shot hay-bale targets to win turkeys. In Memphis, Tennessee, three shots win a turkey, and all proceeds from the event benefit food banks in the area.

Although these Thanksgiving Day traditions are unique, some things ring true among all them: They center on family, friends, and loved ones gathering to enjoy good food, share stories, and give thanks. If you’re strapped for funds, you may want to consider using emergency credit to pay for a trip. Participating in one of these Thanksgiving Day traditions can create life-long memories for your entire family. And that’s something to be thankful for.

Oct
14

Audrain County Agriculture Livestock

A. Hogs
To enhance opportunities for the success of Missouri and U.S. pork producers and other industry stakeholders by establishing the Missouri and U.S. pork industry as a consistent and responsible supplier of high quality pork to the domestic and world market, making Missouri and U.S. pork the consumer’s meat of choice.
Pork by-products are used for many things, following are examples:
Human health care products: heart valves, insulin, skin
Home products: bone china, cellophane cement, floor waxes, glass, glue, insulation, matches, plastics, upholstery, water filters
For more information, go to

cows

B. Cattle
Pound for pound, Americans eat more beef than any other meat. Beef is an excellent source of:

Complete protein, which builds, maintains and repairs body tissues.
Absorbable iron, which helps red blood cells carry oxygen to body cells and tissues.
Zinc, a necessary mineral for growth and reproduction, and for maintaining the integrity of the body’s immune system.
B-vitamins, which are important for digestion and metabolism, maintaining a healthy nervous system, and promoting healthy skin.
Cattle provide us with many by-products –
Blood factors (for treating hemophilia, killing viruses and making anti-rejection drugs)
Chymotrypsin (promotes healing of burns and wounds)
Collagen (used in plastic surgery and to make non-stick bandages)
Cortisol (anti-inflammatory)
Glucagon (treats hypoglycemia or low blood sugar)
Heparin (anitcoagulant used to treat blood clots)
Insulin (for treating diabetes or high blood sugar)
Pancreatin (aids in digestion of food)
Thrombin (coagulant that helps blood clot)
Vasopressin (controls intestinal and renal functions)
Vitamin B-12 (prevention of B-complex deficiencies)
Additional by-products (made from cattle fats and protein):
Candles, Ceramics, Cosmetics, Crayons, Deodorants, Detergents, Floor Wax, Insecticides, Insulation, Linoleum, Mouthwash, Paints, Paper, Perfume, Plastic, Shaving Cream, Soaps, Synthetic Rubber, Textiles and Toothpaste
Cowhide provides leather, which is used to make clothing, shoes, boots, belts, purses, wallets, gloves, luggage, and automobile and furniture upholstery.
Oct
14

Audrain County Agriculture History

Agriculture in Audrain County has a strong history. Following are some of the highlights over the past years.

1854 Land Price was a “bit” per acre or $0.125 / acre
1859 First Ag Society formed (planned and held 2 fairs prior to Civil War 1861)
1913-1915 First County Extension Agriculture Agent
1920s Soybeans were introduced
1936 First Permanent Extension Agent
1939 Consolidated Electric energized first 80 miles of electric line
1945 MFA completed construction of the first soybean processing plant in northeast Missouri. Today the plant is owned by Archer Daniels Midland (ADM).

photo from the history of agriculture in Audrain County, Missouri

Value of Products sold 1929 – $7 million
1939 – $2.5 m.
1959 – $16 m.
1992 – $76 m.
(Measured in bushels) 1850 1920 1970 1997
Corn Production 285,000 2.9 m 4.2 m 5.2 m
Soybean 2.7 m 4.4 m
Sorghum 710,000 3.2 m
Wheat 11,448 319,250 574,000 1.7 m
(Number of head)
Milk Cows 1,421 6,400 900 850
Total Cattle 6,098 29,800 66,300 39,000
Hogs 11,367 56,400 117,600 101,000
Sheep 7,180 21,500 6,121 NA

Information sources: History of Audrain County an Update 1936-1986, Sponsor’s Edition, Audrain Centennial History, History of Audrian County Missouri. Note: All of the books mentioned are located at the Mexico-Audrain Library.

Oct
14

Audrain County Agriculture Agribusiness

Audrain Agribusiness in a non-profit organization that promotes agriculture and agribusiness in Audrain County. The organization began in the late 1980′s, to work together in promoting the area as an agricultural center for Central and Northeast Missouri. With businesses joining together, the group has and continues to provide information and services that will benefit both the member businesses and the agricultural producers. Together the businesses and producers work to meet the needs and challenges of agriculture.

Currently there are more than 60 Audrain Agribusiness members. Members pay yearly dues. The organization has a committee that meets monthly to take care of detailed operations and regular business. The committee also plans and coordinates many of the activities for the organization.

The 1998 board members are: Delana Becker, Lori Diemeke, Mike Fuller, Guy Eick, Dan Monte, Tony Robertson, Jean Ann Mechlin and Mary Sobba

Oct
14

Audrain County Health

HEALTH (album)
Image via Wikipedia

Audrain Medical Center

What makes a great health system?

It all starts with a hospital — a hospital like Audrain Medical Center, with nearly 80 years of experience in bringing life into the world, keeping us healthy, treating our emergencies and helping us recover.

Our state-of-the-art Emergency Room saw more than 14,000 patients last year, and our surgery suite is home to many services that you may not have thought possible this close to home, including foldable lens, no-stitch cataract procedures and total joint replacements. In fact, nearly 30 medical specialities are practiced by our physicians and right here in Mexico — from Anesthesiology and Cardiology to Sports Medicine and Urology.

It takes more to be a system of health care. It takes a system of clinics that bring quality health care directly into our rural communities. Our MedChoice clinics and physicians provide family health care in cities like Vandalia, Montgomery City, Wellsville, Paris, Mexico, and Perry.

Our AMCare service takes health care one step further — right into the home. AMCare provides home health, hospice, and homemaker services throughout our region.

AMC’s Arthur Center is the region’s leader in treatment and counseling for these illnesses, as well as substance abuse, marriage/family & and women’s issues. We’re here to help 24 hours a day.

HEALTHworks provides outpatient physical rehabilitation services. This includes physical therapy, sports medicine, occupational medicine, and speech therapy. Simply put, we help our patients recover quickly from their injuries/surgeries so they can return to life and work again.

And now we are extremely excited about Missouri Advantage, our new regional health plan. Missouri Advantage is the only health plan in our area that is locally owned and managed but has the strength of a state-wide network of independent, rural hospitals. Missouri Advantage was the first provider-sponsored health plan in our area, including Columbia and Jefferson City, Missouri.HRB

This is an exciting time for health care in our communities and Audrain Medical Center looks forward to providing the physicians, facilities, and services to keep us healthy and well into the next century.