KayLynn Lysinger takes a stand with cows, conversations, and collaboration
LOWRY CITY, MO. – KayLynn Lysinger and her husband, Geoff, live near the Lysinger family farm in St. Clair County, Mo. with their children Hadleigh, Jack, and Kenneth. Weekends spent learning the values of farm life don’t seem long enough for the kids; tractor buddy seats stay occupied. KayLynn, Geoff, and the kids love taking care of their backyard chickens, 4-H goat projects and cattle.
Geoff is a true steward of the land, shares advice, and talks about tractors for hours. He is employed by St. Clair Ag/Luke Noakes Farms and KayLynn works for Compass as a Dental Patient Care Specialist.
KayLynn wasn’t born or raised on a farm, she was grafted into agriculture. Her choice to join FFA shaped her agriculture story with some memorable twists. She went on an afternoon parts run with friends, where she met Geoff Lysinger working at the parts counter. One Facebook friend request and several months later, KayLynn and Geoff married in 2015.
KayLynn promised Geoff she would never live in St. Clair County. After a tumultuous childhood, she dug her heels into the rural suburban community that had given her a family and a love of agriculture. Then she realized that long weekends spent on Geoff’s family farm were the life she wanted for her own kids every day, so she began packing their bags to move ‘home’ to Agri-Ready Designated St. Clair County. Agri-Ready County Designation is a voluntary program, facilitated by Missouri Farmers Care, that recognizes counties committed to supporting and growing their agricultural industry.
KayLynn and Geoff’s priorities of family, then agriculture, aligned their focus, If not today, then when? Recently, they decided that a new beginning in their agriculture endeavors would help their family grow together.
“Cattle always seemed like a gamble,” KayLynn shared. “After advice from mentors, I finally realized that if we didn’t take the leap, we’d never get anywhere. So Geoff bought a few cows. Here’s to new beginnings, taking chances, and growing together as a family.”
The Missouri Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers program introduced KayLynn to Farm Bureau’s Discussion Meet competition. She was pushed to learn new things, having meaningful conversations with folks she would have never called, if she hadn’t prepared each event. Her goal is to represent Missouri at an American Farm Bureau Discussion Meet.
KayLynn applied her leadership growth from the Young Farmers & Ranchers program into service on the St. Clair County Farm Bureau board. She contributes to the promotion and education committee, designing annual hands-on agriculture education opportunities for the county’s school districts.
“KayLynn is a welcome addition to the county board. Her enthusiasm is contagious and addictive to the other board members,” said Gary Noakes, past president of the St. Clair County Farm Bureau. “Geoff and KayLynn are a wonderful young couple raising their kids with good family values and we are happy to have them in St. Clair County.”
KayLynn uses the speaking skills she has honed through each Discussion Meet and board meeting to serve her rural community with purpose. Because of her unforgettable childhood, she has become a passionate advocate for justice system reform and local public services.
“I’ve worn the shoes of a victim, and once you understand the impact, you don’t just talk about change – you get to work,” KayLynn said. “I learned that St. Clair County’s Prosecuting Attorney position wasn’t full-time. I had questions, reached out to people to understand what it would take to make a change. I was informed the process required getting it placed on the ballot – either through a petition or by presenting it to the commissioners and having them vote to put it on the ballot. I also heard that it might be an uphill battle.”
Next, KayLynn leaned into collaboration skills she has learned as a member of the agriculture community.
KayLynn advocated for and witnessed the recent signing of Senate Bill 888 by Governor Mike Kehoe, a justice system reform which calls for greater truth in sentencing.
“As a child who was part of the juvenile justice system, I represent a fraction of youth who ‘made it out’ to become contributing citizens. I believe in and will continue to advocate for true reform rather than catch and release policies. Progress is a real reminder that people want to support victims thorugh meaningful change,” KayLynn reflected.
