Menu
Being a farmer's daughter has helped her in life's struggles
Growing up the daughter of a farmer has help her to see the ups and downs of farming life and to deal with struggles. Tina Windham Clark of Wardell can truly say she knows farming, and is proud of her heritage.
You may see her now in the front lobby of the Fisher Delta Research Center, but she has and does a lot more than greet folks as they come in. She has been in this capacity since 2006, but she is also a Missouri Crop Improvement as a field inspector. She has been doing that since 2014. She describes her everyday job as answering questions, whether it be about be weather, variety trial results. “We have weather stations that help the Ag community on Real time weather and archive weather. Helping researchers at our facility,” she adds.
“On a daily basis, I get to help an area farmer or citizen answering questions or point them into the correct person that may have the knowledge they are looking for. We have a lot of Ag Related business meetings where I coordinate and help with their needs as well. I respect a farmer and most of all Family farms.”
Prior to that, she worked with the University of Missouri Soybean Genetics program for nine years, from 1997 to 2007.
Before her employment at the Delta Center, she worked on her families farm.
“Where we farmed Cotton, Soybeans and Wheat, I drove a Cotton Picker and Combine. It was a family farm, farmed by my parents, Brother Gene and myself. My mother drove a tractor everyday with my dad.,” says Clark. She did not stop at just her family's farm, she is married to a lifetime retired farmer and now they are landowners and rent.
“I was raised on a family farm in New Madrid County and then after my father took over the family farm in Wardell, my grandfather retired. We moved to Wardell and I graduated from Wardell and farming was a way of life. All I knew! I had my own picker that I serviced myself. I know the hardships farmers face today.”
“On the Family farm is where I say you learn more than at any desk! That is where I got my personality and it groomed me to help others,” said Clark.
“Technology has changed farming so much, but it is your roots, and that is where it comes from.
It’s the work ethic that I practice today! I admire a family farm that teaches their children about work ethics and working the land.”
She later then took a position at the Delta Center in Cotton and later went to Soybeans. “Where I planted, as well as Harvested. I also worked on the Breeding program where I learned to cross soybeans, as well as Cyst Nematode screening,” she continues.
“I established a wonderful work relationship with one of the country’s best Soybean Breeders. He along with the other Soybean project workers, I hold as close friends. My boss knew letting me be on a tractor planting and combine harvesting was where my heart was and where I felt I do my best.
I later came to work for another lifelong friend, Jake Fisher. That is when I went to work at the office for General Farming /Operations in the office. Where it was hard for me to stay inside, I still on a daily basis have the opportunity to help farmers, as well as University of Missouri Researchers.
I have knowledge as a Commercial pesticide license holder as well as I attended Scouting school here at the Delta Center,” said Clark.
Mostly her lessons were learned on the family farm. One very important lesson was with her father. “My daddy taught me how to drive equipment at a very early age!” However, she did take some Ag classes at the Delta Center with TRC.
When she is not working and has the time, she enjoys yard work, boating, spending time with family. Pool-time is her favorite.
Since working at the Fisher Delta Research Center, she has the 2017 CAFNR Staff Council Above and Beyond Award.
For the high school graduates and FFA students interested in farming, her advice? Your heart has to be in it! It is a great occupation. There is so many ways to be involved in agriculture. So many opportunities. If you want to stay in the Bootheel, Agri/farming is a great profession to be in. Stressful, but very rewarding.