Nestled in the river hills of Marshall, Missouri, Bill and Sue Ellen Stoufferâs 20 acres of chestnuts make Cedar Hill Farms one of the largest chestnut orchards in the state.
The Stouffers made the switch from row crops to agroforestry in the early 2000s after Bill was elected to the state Senate. To date, theyâve planted around 1,500 trees and sell to more than 600 customers in 46 of the 50 U.S. states.
âItâs very different from being in a combine or the cab of a tractor all day,â Bill Stouffer said when comparing chestnut harvesting to growing a row crop like corn. âI love the smell of diesel fuel and fresh dirt, donât get me wrong . (but) we enjoy being able to hear the birds and see the seasons change.â