News Release

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – Lebanon-based Independent Stave Company received high honors in front of hundreds of Missouri producers and agribusiness leaders during the 45th Missouri Governor's Conference on Agriculture, hosted by Gov. Jay Nixon and the Missouri Department of Agriculture.  During the awards banquet Saturday evening, Director of Agriculture Richard Fordyce recognized the company with Missouri’s International Exporter of the Year award.

“In order for Missouri agriculture to continue to move the needle, we must pursue a variety of markets, those within American borders and those overseas,” said Director Fordyce. “I’m honored to recognize the work of those who strive for growth in international markets, which in turn creates additional opportunities for producers in Missouri, in the Midwest and throughout the U.S.”

Independent Stave Company of Lebanon, Mo. was honored with Missouri’s 2014 International Exporter of the Year award. This family-owned, global company reaches customers in over 40 countries and cooperages around the world.  When T.W. Boswell founded the company in 1912, Independent Stave Company focused on white oak staves and heading for cooperage. Eventually, the Boswells expanded into the bourbon and wine barrel business to meet the growing demand for oak worldwide. Independent Stave Company has subsidiaries throughout the world, Cooperages 1912 in Napa, California; Tonnellerie du Monde in Bordeaux, France; Grupo Tonelero Andino in Santiago, Chile; Cape Cooperage Group in Paarl, South Africa; and Cooperages 1912 in Adelaide, Australia.

Missouri began recognizing business' international export efforts with the International Exporter of the Year award in 1991.

Missouri’s International Exporter of the Year was recognized alongside Legacy Awards in Beef, Soybean, Corn, Pork, Poultry, Forestry, Dairy, Rice and Cotton, the Missouri Farm Innovation Award, the Missouri Agriculture Environmental Steward Award, Missouri Ag Education Leader Award and the Missouri Food Animal Veterinarian Award at the 2014 Missouri’ Governor’s Conference on Agriculture closing banquet.


The conference, which took place at the Lake of the Ozarks, concluded Saturday evening with a special performance by country music band Sawyer Brown. The three-day event included nationally-recognized speakers, in-depth discussions about current issues and an agriculture tradeshow. Special events during the conference included the Taste of AgriMissouri reception and the Friday evening benefit auction supporting programs for youth and young professionals in agriculture.
For more information on the Governor’s Conference on Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Agriculture, visit the Department online at http://agriculture.mo.gov.

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Note: Photos of the award presentation are available by contacting Sarah Alsager at Sarah.Alsager@mda.mo.gov or (573) 751-2613.