Mo. gov. makes appearance Thursday at ag event in Saline County

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon speaks to area farmers and other agribusiness leaders Thursday in Saline County. (Marcia Gorrell/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

Missouri's governor Jay Nixon made a stop in rural Marshall on Thursday, March 18 speaking to farmers and agribusiness members.

In a machine shop at the Dale and Brian Miles farm, Nixon told the large crowd that because of "agriculture in the state and the diversity of our economy, this state has not suffered like other states."

"We have challenges, no doubt about it, but in each of the last 12 months our unemployment rates have been lower than the national average," he said, adding a rating organization has named Missouri "as one of the 10 states in the country most likely to lead this country forward in the new economy."

"And one of the reasons is because of the backbone the grand foundation of our economy is agriculture of all types in all regions of the state, whether it's beef or hogs or beans or rice or black walnuts or one of the first lady's favorites, honey," he said. "The bottom line is that the diversified entrepreneurs that are represented in front of me have made it so that our state has not suffered as others."

In closing, Nixon said despite budget challenges and challenges in transforming the economy to the future is "extremely bullish on Missouri," adding that five, 10, 20 and 50 years from now, "The basis of Missouri's economy is going to continue to be the food, fuel and livestock grown in rural Missouri and delivered to markets and families throughout the world."

Jon Hagler, Missouri's director of agriculture, was the last speaker of the day, telling the crowd, "I've said it a 100 times, when agriculture does well, America does well."

He also told the crowd that it is critically important those in agriculture "stay together and that we show up," sticking together to tell the story of Missouri agriculture.

The list of other speakers at the event included Marshall FFA officers presenting a program on "Cap and Trade"; Saline County presiding commissioner Becky Plattner, Jared Singer, executive director of Saline County's Farm Service Agency; Edward J. Hamill, state executive director of the Farm Service Agency; Cindy Young, farm director/manager of Brownfield Network; Dale Ludwig, executive director/CEO of the Missouri Soybean Association/Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council; Mark Wolfe, director of the Missouri State Fair; John Kleiboeker, executive director of the Beef Industry Council; Jeff Windett, executive vice-president of the Missouri Cattlemen's Association; Ashley McCarty, Missouri Corn Growers Association/Missouri Corn Merchandising Council; and Don Nikodim, executive vice-president of the Missouri Pork Association.

The master of ceremonies for the annual Ag Day program was Brian Sowers, KMMO ag director.

Contact Marcia Gorrell at marshallag@socket.net