Jackson chamber visits riding therapy horse farm, winery and construction business on annual Ag Tour

Jackson business leaders have taken a day each summer to get out of the office and into the fields as part of the Chamber of Commerce's annual Ag Tour.

On this year's schedule were visits to Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship in Oak Ridge, The Barrens Winery in Perryville, Mo., and BBL Buildings & Components Ltd. near Biehle, Mo.

About 100 people boarded three buses provided by the Jackson School District for the full-day tour, which included lunch provided by the SEMO Cattlemen's Association.

"We are the longest-running ag tour sponsored by a chamber in the state of Missouri, and that's something we are proud of," said tour organizer Darrell Aufdenberg, vice president and branch manager at Capaha Bank in Jackson.

Aufdenberg said the annual Ag Tour helps people see other sides the agriculture industry they wouldn't normally experience.

Dale Schemel, left, president of BBL Buildings & Components, Ltd., near Biehle, Mo., explains how the lumber used in his plant is tested for strength during the Jackson Chamber of Commerce´s annual Ag Tour on Wednesday, July 21. (MELISSA MILLER)

"They're not growing corn or soybeans, but every stop on the tour is still ag-related," he said.

At Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship, tour participants learned how the program started with one horse back in 2000 and now is a North American Riding for the Handicapped Association premiere certified center with both outdoor and indoor riding arenas.

"We are just like any other farm," said Mary Freeman, instructor and board member. "We have to buy feed and buy hay and our horses have to see the vet, but we have to do it with volunteers and donations."

Two students were given a riding lesson during the tour, and one used a special lift suspended from the ceiling to mount his horse.

The next stop on this year's chamber Ag Tour was a new business in Perryville: The Barrens Winery, owned by Larry and Kathy Huber and their children, Doug and Karen Zoellner and Pete and Julie Huber.

The Barrens opened to the public July 1, but the Huber family has been cultivating Traminette and Chambourcin grapes since 2001, and recently started growing Vignoles grapes as well.

"Grapes like to be pruned," Larry Huber said. "Each year we cut them back almost to where you think you're going to kill them. It's not physically hard work, but it gets monotonous."

All but one variety of wine served at The Barrens is made from grapes grown on site, he said.

The winery is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. six days a week, serving several sandwiches in addition to its wine varieties. It is closed on Tuesdays.

The winery's tasting facility was built by nearby BBL Buildings & Components Ltd. in Biehle, which was the final stop on the Ag Tour.

BBL started making post frame livestock buildings and equipment storage in 1975, operating out of the back corner of the Buchheit store in Biehle.

In April of 2009 BBL moved into a new facility, just off Interstate 55 at the Biehle exit, where its designers, salesmen and truss construction plant are now all in one place.

The economic downturn has halted any expansion plans at the present time.

"Our truss business is off about 30 to 35 percent from what it was, but things seem to be better this year than last year," said Dale Schemel, president of BBL. "Commercial buildings also took a hit, but our ag-related business has made up a greater percentage of our business in the last couple years."

In addition to farm and commercial buildings, BBL also sells floor joist, wall and truss systems as well as building material packages for custom homes.

"It amazes me how much diversity we have in this area," said Devonne Glastetter, vice president at First Community Bank in Jackson, during the tour.

In previous years, the Jackson chamber's Ag Tour has visited agriculture-related sites around the region from St. Louis to Dexter, Aufdenberg said.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646