How one small town Missouri entrepreneur built a professional video business in a town of 10,000

Editor’s note: The following story was produced through a paid partnership with MOSourceLink, which boasts a mission to help entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state of Missouri grow and succeed by providing free, easy access to the help they need — when they need it.

HARRISONVILLE, Missouri — Byron Brooks received his first video camera when he was 14 and hasn’t looked back, he says, starting his own video production business before he even finished high school.

The Harrisonville, Missouri, native – who launched Midwestern Ox Productions in January 2022, just months before he graduated — was initially inspired to pursue a career in film after watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” at Christmas time with his family when he was 13.

“That movie hit me in a certain way,” he explained. “That’s where I fell in love with film and movies, and ever since then, I’ve been learning how to make movies and film and videography.

“I was learning how to edit it before I even had a camera. I tried to learn every way that I could — getting as much information as I could — just because I loved it.”

Now Brooks — who got his first professional camera from his parents for graduation — is shooting weddings, political ads (Republican Mike Haffner for Missouri Senate), real estate walkthroughs, local commercials and rodeo portfolios; plus, he has even partnered with the Harrisonville Chamber of Commerce to make a history series about his hometown.

Byron Brooks, Midwestern Ox Productions; photo courtesy of Midwestern Ox Productions

“I can do what I love, and that’s awesome,” he said. “It’s kind of become an addiction for me. I just can’t get enough video. I love it.”

During his time at Harrisonville High School, Brooks was a part of the audio/video club and news crew, he shared, which is how he became connected with the chamber. Chamber Executive Director Bing Schimmelpfenning approached the journalism students about working with local historian and community pillar John Foster to capture his stories of Harrisonville, starting with the Fellowship Hall murals that depict historical moments in the town’s history.

“Harrisonville is just filled with history,” Brooks said. “We basically went through the whole building, talking about all these murals and how they came to be. Once we put it all together and got finished, we said, ‘This is awesome. We should keep doing this.’

“So we just went all around the community and essentially started a historical documentary, kind of by accident. That was really cool. It’s been an awesome experience.”

Brooks is working with the Harrisonville Chamber of Commerce on a historical series about his hometown; photo courtesy of Midwestern Ox Productions

Midwestern Ox has now produced two collections of “The History of Harrisonville” with 88-year-old Foster and the chamber, including stories about the preserved one-room Rock Ford Schoolhouse, the Courtyard of Honor, the Cass County Courthouse and the record-breaking horse Edwin Forrest.

“Raw talent is what (Byron’s) got,” said Bing, who has been leading the chamber and its foundation for six years. “And he and John hit it off real good. John’s a grandfatherly figure, and Byron’s a younger person, so they clicked.”

Brooks — who also did a real-world learning marketing internship with the chamber — understands what it means to give back to the community, Bing noted. The proceeds from the project are going to the Cass County Museum and the Burnt District Silhouette Project.

“It’s cool to see such a young man mature, create a business, and do that marketing program,” said Bing. “He’s part of the chamber and part of the community, giving back at such a young age. Nowadays, you try to instill those values into the younger generation and wonder if they’re sticking or not. And with him, they are. We’re so proud of him.”

According to Brooks — who aspires to make short films about Harrisonville and the importance of family values — Bing and the chamber have been instrumental in the growth of Midwestern Ox Productions, estimating 80 percent of his clients are referrals through him.

“I think the reason Harrisonville has grown so much as a town is because of him,” Brooks explained. “Every local business there, they go directly to him and he answers whatever question they have. And if a business needs a videographer, he sends them directly to me.”

If you’re looking to start your own business, you might be feeling overwhelmed, confused or stuck. MOSourceLink can help for free. Just call (866) 870-6500 or tell a representative what you need here, and they’ll craft your custom set of next steps and show you which experts and organizations can help you take that first or next step.

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