By MATT PIKE
The University of Missouri Extension Office held the second of its three Field to Consumer Farm Tour visits, welcoming particpants to Triple H Family Farms near Marshall.
On August 20th, participants visited the farms, owned and operated by Matt and Kim Tennill, to experience a firsthand look at how a diversified vegetable operation markets directly to consumers through a Community Supported Agriculture program and local farmers markets. Triple H Family Farms began as a family garden and has grown into a successful direct-to-consumer farm business featuring greenhouses, high tunnels and a variety of vegetable crops. During the tour, attendees explored the farm and learned about production practices, marketing approaches and business management strategies that support the operation.
“What started as a search for better food became something bigger: a mission to grow it ourselves,” Kim Tennill says in a news release from MU Extension. “What began as a small garden has grown into a thriving operation. We continue expanding each year, testing new crops and sharing what we harvest with our community”.
University of Missouri Extension Field Specialist in Agricultural Business and Policy Denice Ferguson adds participant questions centered primarily on vegetable production, creating a valuable opportunity to demonstrate how risk management drives many farm decisions.
“Nearly every question asked during the tour reflected some aspect of risk management,” Ferguson says. “Whether discussing crop selection, investments in high tunnels, labor needs, marketing channels or recordkeeping practices, the Tennills were sharing how they make decisions to manage risk and strengthen their business.”
One tour remains in the 2026 Field to Consumer Farm Tour Series. The final tour will take place on September 17th from 9 to 11am at Anne's Acres, located at 20521 Fordney Rd in Lincoln, Missouri. Participants will explore a u-pick strawberry and blueberry farm business. Registration is required for the tours and attendance is limited to 20 participants. The registration fee is $10. You can register for the tour HERE.
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