In the heart of Chariton County, Missouri, family farms define the landscape and spirit of towns like Keytesville, Salisbury, Mendon, and Brunswick. These small operations, passed down through generations, face relentless threats: soaring input costs, unaffordable land prices, and corporate agribusinesses dominating markets. Brian Reisinger, an award-winning writer and rural policy expert, knows this struggle firsthand. Raised on a four-generation dairy farm in Sauk County, Wisconsin, Reisinger witnessed his family’s fight against economic hardship, from his great-grandfather Alois’s immigrant dreams to his father James’s battle to save their farm. His critically acclaimed book, Land Rich, Cash Poor: My Family’s Hope and the Untold History of the Disappearing American Farmer, named a 2025 Farm Foundation Book of the Year and a C-SPAN Author Series Most Important Book of 2024, warns that America has lost 45,000 farms annually for a century, with family farms at risk of vanishing in 40 years. For Missouri’s small farmers, the Missouri General Assembly’s failure to prioritize their needs—especially by rural representatives such as State Representative (District 48), Tim Taylor and State Senator (District 12), Rusty Black—fuels this crisis. The Chariton Beacon spoke with Reisinger to explore future state policies that could empower Chariton County’s farmers while curbing corporate favoritism, drawing on his deep roots and bipartisan expertise.
A Farmer’s Son with a Mission
Brian Reisinger’s connection to farming is woven into his identity. Growing up in Sauk County, Wisconsin, he worked alongside his father, James, from childhood, learning the resilience required to endure accidents, unpredictable weather, and economic pressures. His great-grandfather Alois, fleeing pre-World War I Europe, bought the family farm, building a middle-class life through the Great Depression. His grandfather Albert purchased a neighboring farm in 1940, facing foreclosure risks, while James fought modern challenges like rising costs and corporate consolidation. Reisinger, destined to be a fourth-generation farmer, chose journalism and public policy to amplify rural voices, earning awards from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and a Solas Award. His work has appeared in USA Today, Newsweek, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Daily Yonder, and RealClearPolitics, and he’s delivered a TEDx talk on food supply risks. Now President and Chief Content Officer of Platform Communications, Reisinger splits time between northern California and the Wisconsin farm with his wife and daughter.
His book, Land Rich, Cash Poor, blends personal memoir with historical analysis, earning praise from The New Yorker contributor Peter Slevin for its “lyrical prose” and from former U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander for its “remarkable portrait of rural families.” Available at Amazon.com, it’s a must-read for Missourians who care about their food’s origins. Reisinger’s experiences mirror Chariton County’s struggles, where small farmers grapple with input costs 10 to 20 times higher than in the 1980s and corporate giants controlling markets. “Farms built these towns,” he said, noting that their decline erodes rural communities like Salisbury. Yet, Missouri’s rural legislators often prioritize corporate interests in Jefferson City, neglecting the family farms they claim to champion.
“Farms built these towns.”
Tax Reforms to Empower Small Farmers
Reisinger’s family faced crushing debt in Wisconsin, a story he tells in Land Rich, Cash Poor. He proposes reforming Missouri’s tax code to protect small farmers without benefiting corporate giants. “Farmland property taxes should be based on what you can grow on it, not what you can develop on it,” he suggested, addressing how high valuations force Chariton County farmers to sell to developers or large agribusinesses. A future policy could cap agricultural property taxes based on crop or livestock yield, easing the “land rich, cash poor” burden for farmers in Keytesville or Mendon. Unlike current subsidies that favor corporate farms, this reform would target small operations directly.
Corporate farms, with vast capital, exploit tax loopholes unavailable to small farmers, a disparity Reisinger critiques. “A lot of overlapping programs waste resources,” he noted, calling for income-based tax credits that exclude multimillion-dollar agribusinesses. Missouri’s General Assembly, particularly rural representatives, must prioritize such reforms, but their history of supporting corporate-friendly policies raises concerns. Chariton County’s farmers deserve a tax system that levels the playing field, not one that tilts toward corporate profits.
Antitrust Laws to Break Corporate Dominance
Corporate consolidation is a central theme in Reisinger’s book, where he describes his family selling their cows amid market pressures. “Four corporations control U.S. livestock production,” he said, creating a closed system that squeezes small farmers in Chariton County. Missouri could enact state-level antitrust laws to ensure open markets for livestock and crops. Reisinger’s father faced mental health struggles during their farm’s decline, a personal toll he shared in a USA Today article, underscoring the human cost of corporate dominance.
“Four corporations control U.S. livestock production.”
A future policy could offer grants or low-interest loans for independent meat processing facilities, helping farmers in Salisbury or Brunswick access local markets without relying on corporate processors like Tyson or Cargill. Reisinger’s bipartisan work on Capitol Hill, including domestic abuse protections, shows that such policies can find common ground. Yet, rural legislators in Jefferson City often align with corporate interests, neglecting small farmers. Missouri must prioritize antitrust measures to protect family farms, but leadership from rural representatives remains lacking.
Investing in Rural Infrastructure
Chariton County’s farmers need infrastructure to thrive. “Broadband and healthcare access are major issues,” Reisinger said, recalling his Wisconsin farm’s isolation. Outside Keytesville, rural areas lack high-speed internet, hindering market access and farm management. Limited clinics in Chariton County exacerbate healthcare challenges, forcing farmers to travel for care. Reisinger proposed a state-led rural opportunity zone program, offering tax incentives to attract broadband providers and fund rural hospitals. “State and local governments need access to federal money,” he added, criticizing Missouri’s failure to secure funding.
He also urged rural legislators to caucus together in the General Assembly to wield more influence, amplifying rural needs in Jefferson City. “Rural legislators caucus together to push policies,” he said, a strategy missing from Missouri’s current approach. The General Assembly, especially rural senators and representatives, prioritizes urban projects, neglecting roads and clinics in Mendon or Brunswick. A future rural infrastructure fund could prioritize counties like Chariton, but rural legislators must lead, not follow corporate-backed agendas.
Empowering Local Solutions
In Land Rich, Cash Poor, Reisinger celebrates community efforts like farmers’ markets and co-ops, which thrive in Chariton County’s towns. “Missouri could reduce tax and regulatory burdens to help these initiatives,” he suggested, envisioning grants for markets in Salisbury or Keytesville. His family relied on community support to survive economic crises, a model Missouri could scale. A future policy could offer matching funds for county-led co-ops, ensuring small farmers access local markets without corporate dominance.
Consumers play a role, too. “People care where their food comes from,” Reisinger noted, urging Missourians to buy local. Chariton County’s farmers’ markets connect producers and buyers, but state support is lacking. Rural legislators must champion policies that bolster these initiatives, not pass measures favoring corporate agribusiness. Missouri’s failure to prioritize local solutions reflects a broader disconnect in Jefferson City.
Advocacy: Amplifying Rural Voices
“Public officials are scared of voters,” Reisinger said, encouraging Chariton County farmers to engage with the Farm Bureau, Chambers of Commerce, and Lions Club. His advocacy, from Capitol Hill speechwriting to his TEDx talk, shows the power of storytelling. Rural Missourians feel ignored by Jefferson City, and Reisinger’s call for collective action resonates: “Engage local community groups.” A future policy could fund rural advocacy training, equipping farmers to lobby for their needs.
Missouri’s General Assembly, particularly rural representatives, must prioritize small farmers over corporate interests. Reisinger’s book, a powerful call to action, amplifies these voices, earning praise from the Associated Press for its historical depth. It’s essential reading for Missourians. Rural legislators’ support for corporate-friendly policies suggests a failure to listen, leaving Chariton County’s farmers to demand accountability.
A Vision for Missouri’s Future
Reisinger’s hope, rooted in his family’s resilience, offers a path forward. “Imagine what family farms could do with more entrepreneurial opportunities,” he said, envisioning a Missouri where small farmers thrive through innovation. Two policies could transform Chariton County: a tax code prioritizing small operations and rural opportunity zones fostering infrastructure and entrepreneurship. Rural legislators caucusing together could drive these changes, amplifying rural voices in Jefferson City.
Missouri’s General Assembly, especially rural representatives, must act boldly. Their alignment with corporate agribusiness over family farms undermines places like Keytesville and Salisbury. By supporting local markets, engaging with community groups, and reading Land Rich, Cash Poor (Amazon.com), Chariton County’s farmers can shape a future where their heritage endures.
A Legacy Worth Saving
Chariton County’s family farms are Missouri’s heart, a legacy Reisinger’s story brings to life. From his great-grandfather’s dreams to his father’s struggles, Land Rich, Cash Poor reveals the cost of losing small farms. Missouri’s legislature must enact tax reforms, antitrust laws, infrastructure investments, and local support to protect farmers from corporate dominance. Rural representatives, tasked with defending Mendon and Brunswick, must caucus together to wield influence, not follow corporate interests. By engaging with their communities, Chariton County’s farmers can ensure their legacy thrives for generations.
