Travis Owen

Travis Owen Missouri Land Specialist   What Clay Mining Looks Like From Start to Reclamation So, what does clay mining actually look like? How do we start the process? In this second part of my blog series, I will guide you through the steps. We will start from the first contact with a company and go to the final reclamation of the land. I base this on my personal experience from our family farm and my work in the industry. Step One: Finding the Right Company The first step is to connect with the correct companies. We've dealt with some that are great at paying their bills, and others we caught running more trucks than they were paying us for. This is the most crucial step. My personal belief is simple: if I can't trust you, I can't have you on my property. The ground we stand on is the most important thing behind God and family. Step Two: Exploratory Drilling Once you've found a reputable company, they'll likely want to conduct exploratory drilling. This needs some paperwork. You have two options: You can let them lease your mineral rights if they discover something valuable. Alternatively, you can agree to pay for the drill truck. Exploratory drilling typically begins randomly, sometimes guided by visible changes in the landscape. Once they hit clay, they document the depth, thickness, and location. If it seems promising, they will do a grid pattern drill. This drill usually has intervals of 10 to 25 feet. It helps estimate tonnage and see if mining is worth the cost. Step Three: Permitting and Site Prep If the clay is good, the company will begin the permitting process. They will work with Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Once approved, they’ll strip the topsoil and pile it out of the way for later use. Next is infrastructure. This includes trenching for electric lines, installing the scale house, and building a truck loop. We also need to create a loading zone, lay red clay roads, and prepare for excavation. Step Four: Mining and Hauling This type of operation is known as strip mining and is regulated by MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) guidelines. Once a stockpile is ready, they begin loading semis — each carrying up to 80,000 lbs of clay — bound for clients. Step Five: Reclamation Once the workers mine the clay, the company begins dismantling the infrastructure. Then comes reclamation. Overseen by the DNR, this phase typically takes years, which is beneficial for landowners. Sometimes the mined area becomes a gently sloping valley, reseeded for pasture. Other times, it can become a lake. Leaving a body of water is often cheaper for the company. However, landowners usually have the final say. The DNR reviews a checklist to ensure all conditions are met. In my experience, the DNR defers the final sign-off to the landowner. Once they approve it, the mining company receives back the bond it had to put up for the project. Will the Land Ever Be the Same? Most people worry their ground will never be the same after mining — and if I’m being honest, it won’t be. But that doesn’t mean someone has ruined it. If you drive down the lane of our family farm today, you’d be hard pressed to tell where the mines once were. With the right approach, your land can have a second life — and in some cases, be better suited to your future goals than before. If you're considering clay mining on your land, I can help. I have real experience, not just theory. I'm happy to chat with you. Do you want to learn more? If you’re considering buying, selling, or managing land, reach out to a local High Point Land Company Agent. For more questions, visit our YouTube Knowledge Center. About Travis Owen Travis Owen was born and raised just outside Middletown, Missouri. He spent his childhood in the outdoors, hunting and working on the family farm. After graduation, he hit the road as a pipefitter, hunting from state to state on his days off. In 2021, Travis moved back to Missouri and purchased his first piece of land with his wife in Lincoln County, MO. During the off-season, he enjoys improving the habitat for local wildlife. He has extensive knowledge of timber stand improvement, invasive species removal, and utilizing fire as a land management tool. Travis has a wealth of outdoor knowledge, from hunting and farming to dirt work. He is passionate about helping others succeed, no matter their goals. Whether you need assistance setting up a property for more efficient hunting, increasing encounters with target game species, solving erosion problems through soil conservation, or making land improvements, Travis is eager to help. If you are interested in selling your Missouri farmland, call Travis Owen at (573) 470-8776 or email him at travis@highpointlandcompany.com

Grey Gold: Clay Mining in Missouri – Part One Travis Owen Missouri Land Specialist A Family Legacy Beneath the Soil Growing up on a farm just outside Middletown, Missouri, in northern Montgomery County, I didn’t just learn how to work the land ...  I learned what was under it, too. Over the first 23 years of my life, we had three different clay mines operate on our 105-acre family farm. It was part of everyday life. When I was just 13, I ran the scales for the mine working our property. Clay mining quite literally helped pay off our farm, 40 tons at a time. Working in the clay mining industry both as a kid and as an adult has given me a unique perspective. I've seen the best and the worst this industry has to offer, from fly-by-night operations to reputable buyers who understood the value of long-term relationships and responsible land use. If you're a landowner with questions about clay on your property, whether you're being approached by a mining company or just curious, feel free to give me a call. Odds are, I’ve dealt with a similar situation and can point you in the right direction. Clay Country: Montgomery, Pike, and Audrain Counties Clay mining isn’t new to this region. In fact, deposits in Montgomery, Pike, and Audrain Counties have been tapped for industrial purposes dating back to the early 1900s. A brick plant once operated in Wellsville, MO, and while that facility has since closed its doors, a plant in Vandalia remains operational, though it uses a different type of clay than what we typically find in our area. Our local clays come in a variety of types and grades, and depending on what’s beneath your soil, it could be valuable for anything from: Cement manufacturing Ceramic ball bearings used in fracking Specialty industrial applications I like to call it “Grey Gold.” And depending on your clay’s composition, color, and industrial rating, the price per ton can vary greatly. Where the Clay Goes: Plants & Processors There are two primary plants in Missouri that receive and process raw clay from this region: High Hill, MO – Produces a wide range of products using various clay blends. Ste. Genevieve, MO – Specializes in cement manufacturing and sources specific types of clay as raw material. Up Next: What You Should Know Before You Sign In Part Two, I’ll cover: How to determine if you have marketable clay on your property What makes a good (and bad) mining contract Reclamation expectations and land value afterward Common pitfalls landowners face — and how to avoid them Stay tuned, and if you have specific questions in the meantime, feel free to reach out. Do you want to learn more? If you’re considering buying, selling, or managing land, reach out to a local High Point Land Company Agent. For more questions visit our YouTube Knowledge Center.   Travis was born and raised just outside of Middletown, Missouri. He spent his childhood in the outdoors, hunting and working on the family farm. After graduation, he hit the road as a pipefitter, hunting from state to state on his days off. In 2021, Travis moved back to Missouri and purchased his first piece of land with his wife in Lincoln County, MO. During the off-season, he enjoys improving the habitat for local wildlife. He has extensive knowledge of timber stand improvement, invasive species removal, and utilizing fire as a land management tool. Travis has a wealth of outdoor knowledge, from hunting and farming to dirt work. He is passionate about helping others succeed, no matter their goals. Whether you need assistance setting up a property for more efficient hunting, increasing encounters with target game species, solving erosion problems through soil conservation, or making land improvements, Travis is eager to help. If you are interesting in selling your farmland, call Travis at (573) 470-8776 or email him at travis@highpointlandcompany.com

Missouri: The Heart of Eastern Turkey Hunting Heritage Travis Owen Missouri Land Specialist There’s nothing quite like the thunder of a gobble echoing through a Missouri hollow as the sun breaks over the timber. For countless hunters across the state, it’s more than a spring ritual—it’s a turkey hunting heritage that ties generations together. Missouri doesn’t just offer world-class turkey hunting—it helped shape the sport itself. From near extinction to a thriving population, from handmade calls to national championships, Missouri is the undisputed heartland of Eastern wild turkey hunting. A Conservation Comeback Like No Other By the mid-1900s, wild turkeys were hanging on by a thread in Missouri. Habitat loss and unchecked hunting had driven the population to fewer than 2,500 birds statewide. But that wasn’t the end of the story—it was the beginning of a comeback. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) launched one of the nation’s most successful trap-and-transfer programs and led the charge in rebuilding wild turkey populations. With its ideal mix of timber, open fields, and water sources, Missouri quickly became a stronghold for the Eastern subspecies—and a model for conservation programs across the country. Today, Missouri is a top destination for turkey hunters nationwide, known not just for numbers, but for tradition. A Cradle of Turkey Hunting Talent Missouri didn’t just bring the turkeys back—it raised up some of the finest turkey hunters and callers in the country. From Paul Butski—a multiple-time Grand National Calling Champion—to legendary hunters like Ray Eye, Missouri’s turkey woods have trained and tested the best of the best. These are hunters who’ve appeared in national media, written books, and shaped how calling and conservation are approached across the U.S. Closer to home, Leroy Braungardt from the Moscow Mills and Old Monroe area helped bring turkey hunting to living rooms—literally. My dad, like many others in Missouri, learned the cadence and rhythm of the wild turkey by listening to Leroy’s instructional vinyl record. Decades before YouTube or apps, Leroy was teaching hunters the art of the call, one scratchy needle drop at a time. His influence can still be heard in the woods every spring. Then there are names like JR Lanham, a skilled turkey hunter whose reputation was built not in magazine spreads or calling contests, but in the woods themselves. JR’s a guy who knows the terrain, knows the birds, and has passed on more than a few lessons to those lucky enough to hunt alongside him. He’s part of that long line of Missouri turkey hunters who understand that the hunt is about more than a tag—it’s about tradition. These men—and many more like them—are part of a culture that values quiet mornings, subtle yelps, and hard-earned gobbles. A Springtime Way of Life In Missouri, turkey hunting isn’t a weekend hobby—it’s a rite of passage. Youth seasons are where memories are made. Opening day is circled on calendars. And even the most seasoned hunters still feel that flutter of adrenaline when a longbeard steps into view. With more than 2 million acres of public hunting land and some of the best managed conservation areas in the country, Missouri offers opportunities for every type of turkey hunter—from the first-timer on a borrowed box call to the veteran running mouth calls he crafted himself. Stewardship Starts at Home Private landowners have played a massive role in keeping Missouri’s turkey populations healthy. Managing habitat for turkeys—whether through prescribed burning, thinning timber, planting food plots, or letting native grasses take hold—pays dividends not just in bird numbers, but in the health of the land itself. Many of the best turkey hunters are also the best land managers. They know the value of leaving edges, maintaining diverse cover, and working with nature—not against it. It’s a cycle of stewardship that benefits wildlife and families alike. Guiding the Next Generation At High Point Land Company, we understand that owning land isn’t just about acres—it’s about opportunity. It’s about hearing your kid’s first gobbler, watching a bird strut across a ridge you worked hard to restore, and being part of a tradition that’s bigger than all of us. If you’re ready to find your own piece of ground where the gobblers still roar and the legacy lives on, we’d love to help.   Do you want to learn more? If you’re considering buying, selling, or managing land, reach out to a local High Point Land Company Agent. For more questions visit our YouTube Knowledge Center.   Travis was born and raised just outside of Middletown, Missouri. He spent his childhood in the outdoors, hunting and working on the family farm.  During the off-season, he enjoys improving the habitat for local wildlife. He has extensive knowledge of timber stand improvement, invasive species removal, and utilizing fire as a land management tool. Travis has a wealth of outdoor knowledge, from hunting and farming to dirt work. He is passionate about helping others succeed, no matter their goals. Whether you need assistance setting up a property for more efficient hunting, increasing encounters with target game species, solving erosion problems through soil conservation, or making land improvements, Travis is eager to help. If you are interesting in selling your farmland, call Travis at (573) 470-8776 or email him at travis@highpointlandcompany.com