PRESS RELEASE
Treasurer Vivek Malek Kicks Off MOBUCK$ Statewide Tour Honoring Lenders and Participants
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tianna Brooks, 573-751-5390 Jefferson City, MO. – Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek is celebrating the state’s top lending partners during his MOBUCK$ Tour 2025, honoring institutions that helped drive record participation in the 2024 program year. The tour began last Monday in Higginsville, continued Tuesday in Sedalia, made a Thursday stop in Linn, and concluded Friday in Springfield, highlighting lenders and borrowers whose stories reflect the program’s success in strengthening Missouri’s economy. In the 2024 program year, the MOBUCK$ program placed 975 loans totaling $583.9 million, an 8 percent increase over the previous year. In Higginsville, Treasurer Malek commended FCS Financial and spotlighted Bertz-Barnes Farm, a seventh-generation operation raising corn and soybeans. With MOBUCK$ financing, the farm secured affordable operating funds to remain competitive while preserving Missouri’s farming traditions. On Tuesday in Sedalia, Treasurer Malek recognized BTC Bank with a commemorative plaque and highlighted Midwest Organic Feed Mill, which produces 2,400 tons of poultry feed weekly. Their expansion, supported by BTC, has fueled regional agricultural development and strengthened Missouri’s place in national food production. On Thursday in Linn, Treasurer Malek honored Legends Bank and spotlighted Lucas and Bailey Haslag, first-generation farmers who built LBH Ranch with MOBUCK$ support. Their state-of-the-art poultry facilities now produce 40,000 pasture-raised eggs per day and have inspired four additional farms in the region, making their story a powerful example of rural revitalization. The week concluded in Springfield at Oakstar Bank, where Treasurer Malek recognized the institution as the number one MOBUCK$ lender statewide. Oakstar’s leadership in the program helped companies like Sho-Me Fabrication LLC, a growing manufacturer founded by Dustin Watson. With MOBUCK$ financing, the company expanded from a 5,000-square-foot leased space to a new 20,000-square-foot facility, boosting production, creating skilled jobs, and strengthening the region’s tax base. “Our lending partners and their clients are the backbone of MOBUCK$,” Treasurer Malek said. “Because of their leadership and commitment, we placed nearly $584 million in loans across Missouri last year. That means family farms, small businesses, and first-generation entrepreneurs gained access to affordable financing—and that’s how we keep Missouri growing.” Treasurer Malek will continue his MOBUCK$ Tour in the weeks ahead with additional visits celebrating program success. The reopening of the MOBUCK$ application portal will be announced in the coming weeks and shared at treasurer.mo.gov.
