Durham Farm
Kyle Durham
Hometown: Norborne
Hailing from the Soybean Capital of the World in Norborne, Missouri, Kyle Durham is a sixth-generation farmer. Along with his wife, Courtney, he has two sons, Simeon and Elijah. The family farm, established by his grandfather after World War II, spans about 2,500 acres of row crops in the Missouri River bottoms. In addition to farming, Kyle owns and operates The Slaboratory, a woodworking business specializing in unique handmade home furnishings, and he is an avid homebrewer.
Share this:
Farmer Q&A
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a sixth-generation farmer from Norborne, Missouri. My wife, Courtney, and I have two sons, Simeon and Elijah. After college, I moved home to farm full-time in 2003. Additionally, I own and operate The Slaboratory, a woodworking business specializing in unique handmade home furnishings, and I am a home-brewer.
Tell us a little about your farm.
Our family farm, as constituted today, was started by my grandfather after he returned from service in World War II. My father and I farm about 2,500 acres of row crops in the Missouri River bottoms near Norborne.
Tell us about your involvement in agriculture.
I became involved in my county Farm Bureau board when I moved back in 2003, and I continue to be active at both the local and state level, having served on the Missouri Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee, Soybean Advisory Committee and FARM-PAC. I was a member of Agriculture Leadership of Tomorrow (ALOT) Class XV and was first elected to the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council in 2015, serving as chairman from 2020 to 2022. In 2023, I was appointed to the United Soybean Board.
When I was in grade school, we would take mid-afternoon snacks to the field during the summer wheat harvest. Farming brings with it long hours in the field and away from home, but this custom allowed us to gather as family and friends in a way I didn’t appreciate as a kid the way I do now as a father.”
Should tractors be red or green?
We’ve always been all green, except for a few pieces of tillage equipment.
What is your favorite planting or harvest snack?
My parents have an apple tree, and you can almost always find me with a sack of golden delicious apples in the fridge on the combine.
What are you listening to while working?
Typically, I’m more apt to have a podcast playing, though I enjoy listening to Royals and Chiefs games on the radio when they’re on. My podcasts vary widely and include politics and current events, theology, craft beer brewing, rural revitalization and history.
Who are your favorite ag influencers to follow?
I don’t keep up with any influencers.
Who is your biggest influence?
My father and grandfather have been tremendous influences throughout my life, and I proudly tell people I’m “third generation lots of things.” My wife, Courtney, inspires me to be a better husband and father.
Do you incorporate any sustainable practices on your farm?
Sustainability, for me, comes from a recognition that farmers are stewards of the land and resources with which we’ve been entrusted. Through the years, we’ve adopted practices including land grading, reduced tillage and variable-rate nutrient application to improve the farm in measurable ways. We continue to look for other methods and practices that will allow the farm to remain profitable and productive for the generations that follow.