We are delighted to congratulate Forrest and Charlotte Lucas for being named our Protect The Harvest Friend of the Land for June 2024. Their founding of Protect The Harvest stemmed from their dedication to promoting and defending agriculture, property rights, and animal welfare. The Lucas’s have made significant contributions to rural and agricultural communities due to their humble rural upbringing.
Forrest’s journey began in Ramsey, Indiana, where he supported his family by working on a cattle farm during his teens. After high school, he undertook various jobs, including working in a muffler factory and hauling loads in a dump truck. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to purchase his first semi-truck three years after high school, marking the start of a successful career in long-haul trucking. Over the following decade, Forrest expanded his business to include more semi-trucks and a convenience store. In 1979, he met Charlotte, and together they raised their son Morgan along with their children from previous relationships.
Driven by a need to improve vehicle performance, Forrest developed a fascination for mixing oils and additives. This passion led to the creation of Lucas Oil Products in 1989. Today, Lucas Oil offers over 100 products sold both domestically and internationally. Beyond Lucas Oil, Forrest and Charlotte have succeeded in various business ventures in the sporting world and cattle industry.
Recognizing the increasing threats to agricultural communities and food security posed by animal rights and environmental extremist groups, Forrest and Charlotte founded Protect The Harvest in 2011. Protect The Harvest aims to promote and defend A Free and Fed America™ by informing and educating the public about the agendas of these extremist groups. The Lucas’s have continued to support and promote the work of Protect The Harvest as we safeguard farming, ranching, property rights, animal welfare and ownership, and outdoor enthusiasts’ rights.
The Lucas’s commitment to addressing food insecurity is exemplified through their support of the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation, Hogs for Hunger initiative, and the annual Drive to Feed Kids. “We all need to eat, and there is no good reason why anyone in America should not have adequate food to feed themselves and family members,” Forrest stated. “We will continue to do our share to help ensure Missourians have enough food.”
Their recent induction into the Missouri Agriculture Hall of Fame this year highlights their impactful efforts. The Lucas’s were recognized not only for their advocacy through Protect The Harvest but also for their establishment of Lucas Cattle Co. and various initiatives addressing food insecurity in Missouri.
“Agriculture is the heart and soul of Missouri, and the recipients of this award truly deserve the honor,” stated Parson, a third-generation farmer who started his own cattle operation in 1985. “To be able to recognize them and be part of this first-ever Hall of Fame makes me so proud of our state and proud to be your governor.”
Forrest Lucas expressed gratitude for the honor, stating, “We are honored and delighted to be selected as two of the first inductees into Missouri’s Agriculture Hall of Fame. Charlotte and I believe it is important to support agriculture because America has outstanding farmers and ranchers who work hard to produce abundant, safe, nutritious, accessible food to feed people throughout the United States and around the world. I grew up on a farm in rural Indiana and have always been passionate about farming and ranching. Being recognized for our efforts is gratifying and much appreciated.”
Forrest and Charlotte Lucas’s lifelong dedication to agriculture, community, and advocacy embodies the true spirit of the Friend of the Land award. We extend our deepest gratitude to them for their remarkable contributions, which continue to inspire and sustain our agricultural heritage.
