Donor Spotlight: Barry Bean, Bean & Bean Cotton Company

Tell us a little about your history with farming and agriculture. Do you come from a family of farmers or was agriculture something you came to on your own?

I’m a fifth generation Missouri farmer and agribusinessman. Like many families, my family came into the Missouri Bootheel when it was first cleared and drained in the early 1900s and built sawmills, a grain elevator, and a cotton gin. We still farm the land they originally cleared, and I operate a cotton business, buying Missouri cotton and selling it around the world.

What are some of the ways science and technology play a role in how Bean & Bean Cotton grows and works with cotton plants?

Science and agriculture have always gone hand in hand, and we work closely with researchers at the University of Missouri Fisher Delta Center, seed and chemical companies, and our own scouts and consultants to ensure we are producing crops as efficiently, economically, and sustainably as possible. We conduct seed trials, regular soil testing, and pest management trials with our research partners to not only make our own operation better, but to further the current state of agriculture and be better stewards of the land.

As a longtime GROW advocate, what do you feel is one of the most important experiences or opportunities the GROW gallery provides for our local community and region?

Despite the fact that we all rely on agriculture for our very survival, consumers, educators, and policymakers are increasingly unfamiliar with where their food and fiber come from, and how it is produced. The GROW gallery is a great tool to reach students and urban consumers and give them the opportunity to have a hands-on experience while learning about agriculture and its importance. It also showcases some of the science and tools we are using to move agriculture forward into the 21st century and meet the challenge of a hungry world.

Why do you feel it’s important for organizations like the Missouri Farm Bureau to support STEM education programs like those at the Science Center?

The GROW gallery is an important tool to correct some of the flawed assumptions consumers make about agriculture, and STEM education gives them the tools to understand the tremendous strides we are making to be even more sustainable. It is critically important that consumers and policymakers have scientifically accurate and comprehensive information to offset the flawed and/or biased science often presented to the public.

Agricultural education has been an essential component of Missouri Farm Bureau’s mission since its founding in 1915, and a thorough understanding of the science of agriculture is key to that education. The Saint Louis Science Center is a vital part of taking that education to urban and suburban students who might not otherwise be exposed to even basic agricultural practices or concepts.

Responses have been edited for clarity and conciseness.