Herbert Austin

Nestled in the hills of Northeast Oklahoma, Cookson Hills is where at-risk children find family-style homes, Christian education, and weekly therapy. Many have faced family struggles, truancy, homelessness, or abuse—but here, they find healing, safety, and hope for a brighter future.

It may seem unlikely that a Kansas farmer with no children of his own would help change lives here—but that’s exactly what Herbert Austin’s legacy of generosity is doing.

Born in 1923, Herb learned the value of hard work early, farming with his father from a young age. In 1950, he bought his first farm in Sumner County, Kansas. Just two years later, oil was discovered on the property. Herb viewed this unexpected wealth not as his own, but as a gift from God—something to steward faithfully and share generously.

Herb expanded his land holdings, invested in the stock market, and collected silver and gold coins, all while living by three biblical principles:

• God owns it all—“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” (Psalm 24:1)
• God calls us to be good stewards—like in the Parable of the Talents
• We are blessed to bless others—“Let us not grow weary in doing good…” (Galatians 6:9-10)

When Herb passed away in 2013, he entrusted his estate to MB Foundation, creating a legacy that supports ministries that were close to his heart.

“Being charitable and supporting worthwhile causes has been a consistent pattern in my life,” he once said. “The Lord has blessed me immensely.”

Part of Herb’s estate was distributed as one-time gifts to several organizations, while a significant portion was placed into an endowment.

Cookson Hills is one of a dozen ministries impacted by Herb’s endowment. Others include Tabor College, Mennonite Disaster Service, Focus on the Family, American Rehabilitation Ministries, and global missions in India and Korea.

In a Cookson Hills gratitude report, one student shared: “My whole life, I spent just trying to survive. But now, I’m learning how to live well with the Lord… God has given me a second chance.”

Today, because of Herb’s generosity, children at Cookson Hills are rewriting their stories with Christ at the center. And through the additional ministries his endowment supports, his legacy extends far beyond his Kansas farm—touching lives around the world and standing as a powerful testament to faith, stewardship, and compassion.