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Scenes of winter’s first big blast on farmScenes of winter’s first big blast on farm

Tuesday treat: A unique look at snow, ice and feeding cows from a rising farm photographer.

Mindy Ward, Editor, Missouri Ruralist

February 4, 2025

15 Slides
A brown cow with an ear tag in a snow storm

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Winter on the farm in Missouri is a mix of hard work and stunning views.

When the snow falls, farms turn into postcard-worthy scenes. But as Cole Hunter found, the daily chores don’t stop just because it looks beautiful outside.

In our latest slideshow, Hunter captures the rhythm of winter farm life — from a cow standing in a pasture covered in snow, to the familiar sight of feeding cattle whether in the pen or on pasture. And, of course, one of the least fun winter tasks — a farmer breaking ice in the pond on a frigid day. There is nothing like swinging an ax on a freezing morning to wake you up.

Will these cold, snowy scenes repeat in February? You never know; Missouri winters are unpredictable.

The state averages 13 to 20 inches of snow per year, depending on your location. Temperatures swing wildly as well. In January, the average lows typically hover around 20 degrees F, but this year the state experienced single digits or even below-zero windchills.

Who knows what the rest of the winter will bring? Some years, we get snow that sticks around, and other times, it’s gone quickly. But one thing is for sure, when the snow does fall, it sure makes the farm look incredible, and it’s likely Hunter is out capturing every detail.

You will see and read more of the Pike County native’s content in the coming days, weeks and months. But for now, enjoy a sneak peek of amazing photography by this Northwest Missouri State University senior, young farmer and entrepreneur who owns C.H. Photography.

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About the Author

Mindy Ward

Editor, Missouri Ruralist

Mindy resides on a small farm just outside of Holstein, Mo, about 80 miles southwest of St. Louis.

After graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural journalism, she worked briefly at a public relations firm in Kansas City. Her husband’s career led the couple north to Minnesota.

There, she reported on large-scale production of corn, soybeans, sugar beets, and dairy, as well as, biofuels for The Land. After 10 years, the couple returned to Missouri and she began covering agriculture in the Show-Me State.

“In all my 15 years of writing about agriculture, I have found some of the most progressive thinkers are farmers,” she says. “They are constantly searching for ways to do more with less, improve their land and leave their legacy to the next generation.”

Mindy and her husband, Stacy, together with their daughters, Elisa and Cassidy, operate Showtime Farms in southern Warren County. The family spends a great deal of time caring for and showing Dorset, Oxford and crossbred sheep.

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