Harper began growing black walnuts in the mid-1980s when he established his first plantation on Conservation Reserve Land on the family farm in Bates County. Plantings were made for several years and now the total acreage in black walnut plantations exceeds 120 acres. During that time, several thousand native black walnut and pecan trees were identified and cared for.
The HarperHill Farms plantations are part of an agroforestry system that includes mostly forages between the tree rows, but also has incorporated such crops as corn, soybeans, wheat, pumpkins, Christmas trees, even ginseng.
Joining the Walnut Council at both state and national levels in 1988, Harper has served as Southwestern Region landowner representative and vice president.
"My association with the Walnut Council has probably given me more usable information about black walnut production than any other single source," says Harper who is the sixth Missourian to serve as president of the organization. Past Missouri presidents include: Gus Rutledge, Stockton; Jim Jones, Stockton; George Trial, Columbia (deceased); Dr. Ed Masters, Sikeston and Gene Garrett, Columbia.
