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Missouri Farm Bureau annual meeting kicks off

Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst framed his comments at the opening session of the 2019 annual meeting by referencing lyrics from a Merle Haggard song.

“Floods, trade wars, a cattle market that makes no sense unless you’re a packer, a dairy industry suffering from perhaps the longest period of low profits in history. It would be easy to look at the agricultural wreckage left behind by 2019 and conclude, ‘yes, indeed,’ the good times are over for good.”

But, Hurst wrapped up saying sometimes, pushing through the hard times, things do work out in the end – and let Merle Haggard sing the rest of the lyrics,‘Cuz the best of the free life is still yet to come and the good times ain’t over for good……’

Hurst said the top priority of Missouri Farm Bureau is for Congress to pass the USMCA. And, he said something must be done to prevent further flooding or there won’t be farmland left to flood.

Speakers included Governor Mike Parson, Senator Roy Blunt, Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, Purdue University economist Jayson Lusk, and a video greeting from Senator Josh Hawley.

Those recognized for Outstanding Service to Agriculture: Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer; Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler; Brian Klippenstein; Randy Campbell, and, Diane Olson.

The Missouri Farm Bureau annual meeting wraps up Tuesday at Margaritaville Resort (formerly Tan Tar A) at Osage Beach.