A Mato Grosso native at heart, Cl\u00e1udio Lu\u00eds Schons, originally from Rio Grande do Sul, found an opportunity in Lucas do Rio Verde to continue practicing the trade passed down by his father. In 1988, at the age of 11, he arrived in the state, and his family began their life in agriculture, producing cassava flour and yerba mate. After a few years, they shifted to cultivating soybeans and corn. A member of the Mato Grosso Soybean and Corn Producers Association (Aprosoja MT), Schons emphasized the importance of agriculture to the world and highlighted his pride in being a rural producer.<\/p>\n
Initially, Mato Grosso was marked by resistance from those who came seeking new opportunities to work. This was no different for Cl\u00e1udio Schons, who highlighted some of the main difficulties faced at that time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we moved here from Rio Grande do Sul, the biggest difficulty we encountered was the lack of electricity in the countryside, whereas in the south it was already commonplace. Furthermore, where I lived, I could choose two or three schools; I lived right at a crossroads, I could pick and choose my schools, and here in Mato Grosso we faced this educational challenge,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/opresenterural.com.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Colheita-de-Soja-Foto-Gilson-Abreu.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nPhoto: Gilson Abreu<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The farmer managed a property with his father and sister for 22 years, but in 2020 an opportunity arose to manage a farm with his wife, Lucimeire Mattos Schons. \u201cIn 2020, due to the pandemic, we reconsidered and decided to pursue solo careers. So, since 2020, my wife, who was a civil servant at the city hall, left her job and came to help me with the fiscal aspects of the farm, and I took on the practical, day-to-day side. And we managed to interact with our children, bringing them along,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Even with the change, the Schons family continued contributing to local growth through agriculture. Looking back on their entire history in agriculture, Cl\u00e1udio highlighted his pride in contributing to the development of Mato Grosso and also in providing food for the world.<\/p>\n
After his "solo career" in agriculture, Cl\u00e1udio began to involve his children more in the care of the property. He explained that his youngest son, Vitor de Mattos Schons, will inherit the task of tending the crops, since his eldest daughter, Maria Eduarda Mattos Schons, pursued a career in the health field.<\/p>\n
During the conversation, Cl\u00e1udio also spoke about the importance of Aprosoja MT in responsibly disseminating information to rural producers. The association collaborates in preventing problems, helping to overcome potential obstacles. \u201cAprosoja MT, through these annual events and meetings, provides a broad understanding of what is happening in the state or any problems that we can prevent. So, joining was good because it was a positive aspect, bringing news more quickly,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n
Stories like that of Cl\u00e1udio Lu\u00eds Schons make Aprosoja MT continue to believe in the strength of the state's rural production and seek to further strengthen the sector.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n