Sara Schafer
sschafer@ruralmissouri.coop
Editor
Sara Schafer joined Rural Missouri in 2023. Sara previously worked as the Top Producer Editor and Farm Journal Content Manager for Farm Journal. After graduating from the University of Missouri – Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Journalism she worked full-time at Boone Electric in the communications department crafting the cooperatives pages for Rural Missouri.
Megan Backes
mbackes@ruralmissouri.coop
Creative Director
Megan Backes joined the Rural Missouri team in 2010. Originally from Pilot Grove, Megan received a degree of fine arts in graphic design from the University of Central Missouri. Megan is responsible for much of the magazine’s design and layout each month and assists with other aspects of the publication.
Mary Davis
mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop
Production Manager
Mary Davis joined Rural Missouri in 1990 after working for the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Mary is the liason with our printer, handles postal issues and oversees the budgeting process for Rural Missouri. She is responsible for all of the display advertising in Rural Missouri and also assists the entire staff with graphics.
Angie Jones-Wheeler
ajones@amec.org
Design and Print Services Coordinator
Angie Jones-Wheeler designs the cooperative local pages that appear inside Rural Missouri magazine. Originally from Eldon, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in graphic design from Drury University and joined the staff in 2007. She is also a designer for the AMEC printshop.
Jim McCarty
jmccarty@ruralmissouri.coop
Manager of Special Projects
Jim McCarty joined Rural Missouri in 1985. A University of Missouri School of Journalism graduate, he has been honored by the Cooperative Communicators Association as “Writer of the Year” in 1994 and has received that organization’s coveted Michael Graznak young communicator award. As editor, Jim led the Rural Missouri staff to national recognition four times as the recipient of George W. Haggard Memorial Journalism Award from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Paul Newton
pnewton@ruralmissouri.coop
Managing Editor
Paul Newton joined the staff in 2013. Originally from Galena, Ill., Paul received a degree a photojournalism from Western Kentucky University. Prior to Rural Missouri, Paul worked at The Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale, Ill., from 2007-2013, as a staff photographer and later as the director of visuals.
Zach Smith
zsmith@ruralmissouri.coop
Director of Digital Media
Zach Smith joined Rural Missouri in 2016. Originally from West Plains, Zach received a degree in film production from Webster University and a master’s in journalism from the University of Missouri. He has been honored by the Cooperative Communicators Association as “Writer of the Year” in 2018 and 2022.