July 30, 2026·Grow Neosho
Rudy Farber Named Missouri Chamber's 2025 Missourian in the Arena
The state Chamber's recognition of a Neosho banker whose work reaches well past Neosho — celebrated at Crowder College in July.
Rudy Farber has been named the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry's 2025 Missourian in the Arena — the Chamber's recognition of a Missourian whose work has moved the state forward.
Farber is chairman of Community Bank & Trust in Neosho. The Chamber's citation points to a career of building things that outlast the building of them: fundraising more than $40 million for the medical and dental schools in Joplin, and a hand in transportation, health care and business across Missouri.
The award was announced on 11 November 2025 and presented at the Chamber's Annual Meeting on 20 November. On 30 July 2026 the Chamber brought the celebration to Neosho, hosted at Crowder College, with Community Bank & Trust, the Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce, Community Support Services of Missouri, Missouri American Water, K&S Wire Products and Vital Care of the Four States.
Great to be in Neosho today with members and business leaders from across the region. — Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Grow Neosho has worked alongside Farber for years, including through the Hawthorn Foundation, where the organisation has held a board seat for many years. In 2006 he joined Representative Ron Richard and Missouri Department of Economic Development staff on an industrial prospect visit to the Nissan plant in Tennessee, representing southwestern Missouri — a trip Grow Neosho co-sponsored.
Closer to home, the Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce has previously named him Citizen of the Year and presented him with the Gib Garrow Award.