In Missouri's Bootheel, where farmland stretches for miles and hometown traditions run deep, you'll find Holcomb, Missouri. This small community is known for its agricultural roots, school spirit, and local businesses that bring neighbors together.
In the latest video in SEMO's Show Me Home series, President Brad Hodson joins elementary education major Landon Smith for a tour of his hometown. From legendary pork steaks and Hornet pride to generations of family farming, Landon shares the people, places, and experiences that make Holcomb special to him.
The town was named for Lewis Holcomb, Dunklin County’s first sheriff, after the community’s post office was established in 1886. Today, Holcomb is surrounded by the agricultural landscape that defines much of Dunklin County, including the watermelons and cantaloupes grown around the area.
What Is Holcomb, Missouri, Known For?
Located in Dunklin County in southeast Missouri, Holcomb is part of the Bootheel, a region shaped by agriculture and generations of farming families. Its rural landscape, farmland, and agricultural businesses are central to the community's identity.
Life in Holcomb is closely connected to the surrounding region. Local schools bring families together, neighborhood businesses are supported by the community, and agriculture continues to provide opportunities for those who call the Bootheel home.
For Landon Smith, those hometown connections have influenced his future. After attending Three Rivers College, he chose to continue his education at SEMO's Kennett campus, where he found an affordable education close to home and a close-knit campus community.
Now pursuing a degree in elementary education, Landon hopes to give back to his community as a first-grade teacher.
Holcomb High School
What is Holcomb High School’s mascot? The Hornets of course! You can't talk about Holcomb without mentioning the Hornets. Holcomb High School is a source of hometown pride, bringing the community together through athletics, school events, and traditions.
For Landon Smith, that connection started long before he became a student. His mother taught history at Holcomb High School, and some of his earliest memories are of spending time there. Her dedication to teaching eventually inspired him to pursue a career in education himself.
Landon also has a special connection to one of the school's most recognizable figures, Herbie the Hornet. As the former school mascot, he helped bring school spirit to the gymnasium and became a familiar face at school events, even if that face was hidden inside a Hornet costume.
His passion for education has continued at SEMO, where his field experience at Kennett's Masterson School helped him discover his interest in teaching first grade. Inspired by his mother, Landon hopes to become a positive role model for children in the same region where he grew up.
Where to Eat in Holcomb, Missouri?
Holcomb has plenty to offer when it comes to local food and hometown favorites. From legendary barbecue to sweet treats, these local spots are worth a visit. Discover two Holcomb favorites that bring good food and the community together.
Strawberry's BBQ
If there's one restaurant you should know about in Holcomb, it's Strawberry's BBQ. This local favorite has earned a reputation for its barbecue and signature seasonings.
That reputation has roots in barbecue competitions. In 1994, owner Jerry “Straw” Holsten won Grand Champion at the Show-Me State Bar-B-Que contest in Kennett. He later competed in the World Championship Bar-B-Que Contest in Memphis, Tennessee, one of the highest honors in competition cooking.
Those competition experiences helped inspire Strawberry's Grand Champion Shake-on Bar-B-Que Seasoning, which was developed from a traditional wet sauce recipe and refined over years of experimentation.
While Strawberry’s Shake-On Seasoning is part of that barbecue tradition, you can conveniently take part in online; you can also experience it at the restaurant. The pork steak is a must-try for anyone visiting the area. It's also Landon's recommendation for Dr. Hodson, who had never tried one before visiting Holcomb. The generous portion certainly made an impression.
Whether you're stopping in for a quick bite or covering the milestone of introducing someone to their first pork steak, Strawberry's is a place worth adding to your Bootheel travels!
The Junction
In a small town, a convenience store can be much more than a place to fill up your gas tank. In Holcomb, The Junction is a convenient stop for everyday necessities and a place where neighbors can cross paths throughout the day. And if you're looking for something sweet, the soft-serve ice cream comes highly recommended.
How Does Agriculture Shape Missouri's Bootheel?
Agriculture has long been part of the Bootheel's identity. The region's farmland supports a variety of crops, while family-owned farms and agricultural businesses help sustain many of Missouri’s local communities.
Watermelons are among the region's recognizable summer crops, and Holcomb is home to a family farming operation that demonstrates the scale of agricultural production in southeast Missouri.
What Does Five Generations of Farming Look Like?
At Weaver Farms, agriculture is a family tradition spanning five generations. The farm is part of the region's watermelon industry, handling approximately 20 million pounds of melons during a season. Yes, you read that right: 20 million!
Freshly harvested watermelons arrive from the fields and move through the farm's grading operation, where they are prepared for distribution. During President Hodson’s visit, some of the melons had been on the vine just an hour earlier, and he was able to see this process live.
The operation offers a glimpse into the work behind one of the Bootheel's favorite summer crops and the families who have helped sustain the region's agricultural traditions for generations. For Holcomb, farming is part of its history and continues to play an important role in the community today.
What Makes Holcomb, Missouri, Special?
Holcomb's character comes from the people who keep its traditions alive. From the pride surrounding Holcomb High School to the familiar faces at local restaurants, and the generations of families working the land, this community's roots run deep.
For Landon Smith, growing up in Holcomb helped shape his decision to become a teacher. His experience at SEMO's Kennett campus has allowed him to continue his education close to home while gaining hands-on experience in the classroom.
A town can be known for its barbecue, school spirit, or agricultural roots, but it’s the people who make it home. In Holcomb, generations of family traditions and a strong sense of community continue to shape the town and inspire people like Landon to carry that hometown pride into the future.
Frequently Asked Questions About Holcomb, Missouri
- Where is Holcomb, Missouri? Holcomb is located in Dunklin County in southeast Missouri’s Bootheel. The community is surrounded by farmland and is part of a region with deep agricultural roots.
- What is Holcomb, Missouri, known for? Holcomb is known for its agricultural traditions, strong school spirit, and local gathering places. The area is also home to Strawberry’s BBQ and family farming operations that contribute to the Bootheel’s agricultural industry.
- Where can you eat in Holcomb, Missouri? Strawberry’s BBQ is a local favorite known for its barbecue and large pork steaks. The Junction is another popular stop for quick meals, groceries, and soft-serve ice cream.
- What is SEMO’s Show Me Home series? Show Me Home follows SEMO President Brad Hodson as SEMO students introduce him to their hometowns and share the places, traditions, and people they’re proud of. In this edition, elementary education major Landon Smith takes Dr. Hodson around his hometown, Holcomb, Missouri.