By Alec Magenheimer
Alec is a sixth-generation rice farmer from Yuba City, California, who currently serves on the Board of Directors of the California Rice Commission.
MIDSOUTH RICE COUNTRY & MOLINE, IL – As I landed in Memphis, Tennessee, I was looking forward to many firsts on this second session of the Rice Leadership Program. It was my first time in Memphis and my first time in Mississippi and Missouri. I was supposed to be the last to arrive, flying in from California, but most of my class was delayed due to flight cancellations, so I ended up getting there early. A local classmate gave me a quick tour of Memphis while we waited for the rest of the group. After a brief reunion, we were back on the road, heading north to Missouri and our first crossing of the Mississippi River.
Arriving in Missouri brought us to the luxurious Elk Chute Lodge, where we were treated to a tour of the grounds and the Missouri Leadership Alumni dinner. I was impressed by the lodge’s character. It was built using reclaimed lumber from local homes and barns, and a farm implement served as the frame for one of the staircases. By the time we left, I was already planning a return trip during duck season. I hadn’t been familiar with the concept of a duck hunting lodge that serves as a regional base for hunters rather than being tied to a specific property, and I thought the model could translate well to California.
Feeling rested, the next morning we loaded up and headed into Missouri rice country. I had been eager to see how rice farming worked in a new state. We spent the day visiting family farms that have each carved out their own niche in the industry. At Martin’s Farm, we learned about the land’s layout, the high water table, a drainage project that moved more earth than the Panama Canal, and the family’s enthusiasm for experimenting with different varieties and running their own mill. At the Tanner seed farm, it was impressive to see the clean, well-kept fields and hear how much is produced from the limited seed stock they’re allocated. Later that afternoon came another first: row rice. Seeing a rice field with no levees, furrow-irrigated like any row crop, was eye-opening. The system saves time, labor, and water. We also learned that Missouri relies heavily on on-farm storage and drying but can tap into river ports to move grain.
Heading south again, we crossed into Mississippi and were welcomed by Dr. Tim Walker, CEO of Horizon Ag, at a great Italian restaurant where we discussed the role his business plays in the southern rice industry and got a broad overview of Mississippi rice production.
The next morning, our first stop in the Mississippi Delta was Banks Rice where we toured a state-of-the-art on-farm mill. We heard how milling has helped diversify their operation and got to sample one of their specialties, rice grits, which were delicious. Traveling farther south, we found ourselves surrounded by dozens of wind turbines scattered across farmland. Learning about the construction process and hearing that turbines can be farmed around with a relatively small footprint got me thinking about how renewable energy and agriculture might increasingly work hand in hand as the country transitions to cleaner power.
Our next stop was an elevated home right on the banks of the Mississippi River where we enjoyed ribs and great conversation as barges passed by, foreshadowing our visit to the Simplot Fertilizer terminal. It was fascinating to see how that facility leverages the river barge system to distribute product by truck to farms across the region. We watched a barge being unloaded and got a detailed look at how local fertilizer infrastructure operates. The ability to use the river for freight is a significant logistical advantage in that part of the country.
After leaving the terminal, we toured a nearby farm to learn about their aromatic rice varieties and the local history of the area. Our final stop of the day was at the Mississippi State University Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, where we toured the research facilities there before sitting down to the Mississippi Leadership Alumni dinner. From there we crossed the Mississippi yet again into the heart of rice country, Arkansas, and another impressive duck lodge, Five Oaks.
The next morning began with a home-cooked breakfast at Isbell Farms and a presentation on their innovative rice practices and saké production. We were joined by a group of mostly European representatives from Mars’ sustainability department, and it was interesting to hear their perspective on American rice farming and what sustainability means to them. Lunch followed in Stuttgart, the self-proclaimed rice and duck capital of the world, where we spent the afternoon touring Producers Rice Cooperative, a major dryer, mill, and parboiling facility that occupies several blocks of the town. The scale was staggering.
Just across the way, we met with Riceland Foods, the other large coop in Arkansas, and discussed the history of the company and the challenges facing the industry. Back at Five Oaks, we were introduced to their waterfowl conservation and research programs before heading down the road to visit a private rice research company and see a specialized plot harvester called a Wintersteiger. The evening wrapped up with a reception hosted by the Arkansas Rice Industry.
The following morning, our last in Arkansas, we had coffee together and visited a local farm to learn about the intensive soybean rotation common to the region. Our final stop before heading home was Little Rock and a visit to the John Deere Harvester factory, though the excitement quickly turned to nerves when our flight was delayed and we faced a tight connection in Chicago. We missed it. Rather than stressing, our leader, Dr. Steve Linscombe, arranged two cars to drive us to Moline. The Illinois countryside made it hard to be too disappointed about the detour.
The next morning, our first stop was John Deere World Headquarters, a dream come true for anyone who grew up around farming. We saw historical artifacts, antique tractors, stood in the fully landscaped atrium, and visited the executive dining room with its marble walls and view over the pond. It was a behind-the-scenes look at one of America’s most iconic companies. A short drive across town brought us to the Deere Harvester Works, where we walked the factory floor seeing raw metal transform into fully assembled combines. Welders, painting robots, and assembly lines filled the space, and it was a privilege to see the process firsthand.
After another successful session sponsored by the American Commodity Company, John Deere, RiceTec, and Supreme Rice, I’ve built real friendships with my classmates, met industry leaders across the rice-producing states, and gained a deeper appreciation for the unique advantages and challenges of the long grain producing region. Meeting the farmers, scientists, and business leaders who have dedicated their careers to producing the best rice possible was encouraging, and I look forward to seeing many familiar faces at this year’s USA Rice Outlook Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.