Missouri Farm Bureau President Recalls Journey To Advocacy

Missouri Farm Bureau Pres. Garrett Hawkins prepares to open a forum featuring four candidates for Missouri governor, held Dec. 3, 2023 at the Margaritaville Lake Resort in Osage Beach. (Photo by Kyle Hill, Alpha Ag Network)

During his speech to attendees of Missouri Farm Bureau’s 109th Annual Meeting on Monday, President Garrett Hawkins reflected on an early opportunity to stand up for agriculture. Hawkins said he was 16 when Appleton City leaders were pursuing what they thought would create jobs for their community.

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Hawkins said he prepared a speech opposing the prison. He would deliver it at a packed town hall meeting.

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However, Hawkins would come away from the meeting with a renewed purpose.

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Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins said the experience would lead him to pursue more opportunities to advocate for agriculture, including one of Farm Bureau’s first collegiate ambassadors.