STAR AFFILIATES: Missouri STAR

As the state STAR Affiliate, the Missouri Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD) has led the development of MO STAR and coordinates with the Missouri Climate-Resilient Crop & Livestock (CRCL) Project administered by the University of Missouri Center for Regenerative Agriculture, which is also supporting MO STAR development efforts. With broad support from state government, commodity groups, non-profits, and farmers and ranchers across the state, MO STAR Steering and Science Committees were established and continue to meet monthly to oversee the development of the MO STAR program. The MO STAR state specific field forms, scoring, and Conservation Innovation Plan were developed and launched in August 2025 for Missouri farmers in row crop and wheat systems, with an option for fallow fields. Missouri will be the first Midwestern state to pilot the newly developed regional STAR for Grazing Lands evaluation form which will be launched in September 2025.  

MO STAR Steering & Science Committee members include: 

• Kurt Boeckmann, Director of Environmental Programs | Missouri Corn Merchandising Council   
• Jim Boschert, Executive Director | MASWCD 
• Ryan Britt, Farmer, Executive Board Member | NACD North Central Region 
• Mike Deering, Executive Vice President | Missouri Cattleman Association 
• Kenneth Henderson, Division Director | Grain Inspection & Warehousing Division of MDA 
• Rob Kallenbach, Associate Dean, Senior Program Director of Agriculture & Environment | University of Missouri Extension 
• Annalise Lallana, Midwest Urban Ag & Small Farm Outreach Specialist | American Farmland Trust 
• Clayton Light, Director of Conservation Agriculture & Farm Operations | Missouri Soybean Association 
• Rex McAliley, EWPP Coordinator, Wildlife Biologist | USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service 
• Ethan Miller, District Manager | Boone County SWCD 
• Josh Poynor, Soil and Water District Coordinator | Missouri Department of Natural Resources 
• Mitchell Rice, 4R Certification Program Administrator | Missouri Fertilizer Control Board 
• Kent Wamsley, Grassland and Sustainable Agriculture Strategy Manager | The Nature Conservancy 
• J. Alan Weber, Farmer, Consultant | University of Missouri Center for Regenerative Ag 
• Ron Willis, Farmer, President | MASWCD 
• Patricia Turman, State Agronomist, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service