Green Horizons

On a rare occasion in our lives, we have the good fortune to meet and get to know an individual who greatly influences the way we think. Larry Harper had that effect on me.

Larry Harper carefully tending his black walnut trees.

Larry was born July 4, 1942 in Butler, MO. He graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in Agricultural Economics in 1963 and went on to become a highly respected agriculture communicator as editor of the Missouri Ruralist Magazine. He was a strong supporter of Missouri agriculture and served each of our recent governors (beginning with Governor ‘Kit’ Bond) in various advisory capacities. He was also an avid supporter of the University of Missouri and always made himself available when called upon to serve the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.

Larry was a family farmer and a strong advocate of preserving America’s rural lifestyle. He firmly believed that agroforestry could provide an economic boost to the family farm. Moreover, he put into practice what he preached. He transformed his family farm near Butler, Missouri from a row-crop enterprise into a highly diversified mix of grafted black walnut, inter-cropped with pumpkins, Indian corn and a variety of other niche crops or livestock grazing the alley ways.

He was once quoted as saying that agroforestry had helped save his farm. However, when asked how profitable agroforestry was, he would only say "I am now making more than what I used to be losing" - spoken like the true farmer that he was!

Larry passed away on May 23rd, 2005, and his loss leaves a void that will be difficult to fill. He was a gentleman, a scholar and truly a man of influence in the agricultural community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.