Kurt Kysar
Family: Wife Linda and children J.W., Zak and Emily
Location: Branson, Mo.
In Town: Kurt serves as the Protection Field Chief for the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDC) in Jefferson City, Mo., where he supervises four regions across the state and more than 100 employees. Kurt went to work for the MDC after graduating the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he majored in Animal Husbandry. “My dad was friends with one of the old Taney County Game Wardens and I always thought he had the best job,” said Kurt, “and my love for the farm and wildlife led me to working with the MDC.” Kurt has worked at the MDC for 36 years this coming August.
On the Farm: His weekdays are spent in Jefferson City, but weekends are spent on a 560-acre farm in Branson. “This farm has been in the family for 45 years and is in a trust among our family,” said Kurt. “We have cattle, horses a mule and chickens.” His family also operates two additional farms. One is a 1,000-acre farm near Nevada, Mo., that is currently in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the other is located in Taberville, Mo., where the family participate in the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP). “We have developed wetland areas for water-fowl hunting on the farm,” said Kurt.
How does your job at MDC compliment the farm life?
“Working at the MDC has allowed me to learn how to properly develop wildlife habitat on my farm and has provided me knowledge in supervision and paperwork that has made our farming operation better,” explained Kurt. “I know how to fill out paperwork to get the farm in some programs that help provide funds to implement different wildlife programs.”
Story and Photo by Lane McConnell
