Baumgartners named Agriculturalists of the Year

by David Reed

March 13,2008

      Boone County farmers Joe and Sue Baumgartner were honored as the 2008 Agriculturalists of the Year during the Columbia Chamber of Commerce's 49th annual Agriculture Recognition Banquet.
      More than 320 people attended the event Tuesday night at the Elks Lodge. 
      The Baumgartners, who were married in 1960, own 320 acres of land and rent another 850 acres in the Ashland-Englewood area of Boone County when they were raised. Their crops consist of about 300 acres of corn and 300 acres of soybeans.
      The Baumgartners raised hogs on their farm for 30 years and now have a livestock operation with about 150 cows, according to a script of the presentation made during the event.