Larry Petree family are Cooperators of the Year

Tom Harris, chairman of the Moniteau County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors, presents the 2017 Cooperator of the Year award to Larry Petree. From left, are Harris, Carleen Petree, Grant Petree, Larry Petree and Carmen Nolting.
Tom Harris, chairman of the Moniteau County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors, presents the 2017 Cooperator of the Year award to Larry Petree. From left, are Harris, Carleen Petree, Grant Petree, Larry Petree and Carmen Nolting.

The 2017 Cooperators of the Year Award was presented to Larry, Carleen and Grant Petree and Carmen Nolting at the 42nd annual meeting and open house of the Moniteau County Soil and Water Conservation District March 15.

Petree drove a tractor at the age of seven. At 16, he rented his first farm of 40 acres from Floyd Turpin. He bought his own Case 300 tractor at a farm auction. With his wife, Carlene - whom he married in 1964 - they bought their first farm from John and Millie Lappat in 1970.

At the time, they had two children, Jeff, who was in kindergarten, and Carmen, who was 2. The Petrees now have resided on that farm for 48 years. Carleen Petree drove the tractor and did whatever else needed to be done, and when Carmen started school in the 1980s, Carleen went to work at Gerbes.

There were two more children, Grant and Kelly, added to the family. They bought four additional farms, and to help out during the 1980s, Larry Petree went to auction school and the business is still in operation. They have had semi-trailer trucks on the road for several years. First they hauled livestock, and now just haul grain. They have raised hogs and always have raised cattle on the farm.

Farming has changed over the years. In earlier years, it was common practice to plow all of the cropland. Now, it is mostly no-till. The family of parents and four children worked very much in farming. The oldest son, Jeff Petree, now lives in Leslie and is involved in swine production. Carmen Nolting is a teacher at Versailles Middle School, residing in Versailles. Kelly Petree lives in Tipton and is employed in Jefferson City by OSCA.

Grant Petree works as a lineman for CO-MO Electric and is heavily involved in family farming. He went to auctioneer school and is the auctioneer for their business. Carleen Petree was Moniteau County Collector for 28 years before she retired. She always has done the record-keeping for the family business.

In 2011, Larry Petree was in a terrible farm accident, resulting in 70 days spent in a hospital. They expressed their appreciation for the help given by friends and neighbors to help the family get through that "trying time." Larry Petree is once again able to operate the combines and drive the semi's on a limited basis.

Larry Petree was active in FFA during high school and Carleen Petree was in 4-H. Their children were also in FFA and 4-H. He has served on several boards through the years and has been an active member of the community. She has served on many boards and is still active on three boards.

They are members of St. Andrew's Catholic Church. The Petrees have seven grandchildren. They are Lexie, 25, Lane, 22, Lendie, 18, Betty, 9, Larrah, 9, Ila, 2, and infant Norah.