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Parson says Missouri needs more farmer lawmakers

Missouri’s Lieutenant Governor says the state’s ag youth should consider a future in public service as a lawmaker.  Following his speech at the Missouri FFA Convention, Mike Parson said the state legislature needs more farmers.

“Since I’ve been up there, you see fewer and fewer [lawmakers who are farmers] every year come to the State Capitol,” Parson told Brownfield Ag News at the Missouri FFA Convention.  “I think it’s really something that we as farmers and ranchers in this state have got to pay a little bit of attention to, because everything that happens in Jefferson City affects us and our way of life.”

Parson – a third generation farmer who served in the Missouri Senate before being elected lieutenant governor – reminded the ag youth of their responsibility to feed a growing world population.  Afterward he said that extends to civic responsibility.

“These young men and women here tonight, I hope somebody realizes, ‘hey, maybe it’s my job to go protect agriculture, maybe it’s my job to go to Jefferson City and be a servant, a public servant to support agriculture,’” said Parson.  “Because that may be their calling too.”