Just hours after we officially entered the New Year, an evil terrorist drove a truck down Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing at least 14 people and injuring dozens of others. After crashing his vehicle, which was flying an ISIS flag, the terrorist was shot and killed by heroic law enforcement officers who didn’t hesitate to rush toward danger to save countless lives. My heart goes out to the loved ones of the victims of this heinous terror attack. more

Every time I come back from the Missouri Farm Bureau annual meeting at Margaritaville Lake Resort, I reflect on the experience of what it is like when we all come together. While some things like themes, key topics and policy points change each year, a few standard activities provide a nice routine. From the annual pancake breakfast and silent auction, that benefit the MOFB Foundation for Agriculture, to the smiling faces of our staff at the registration tables, it’s nice to be in a familiar place, with familiar faces and have certain things where you expect them to be each year. more

Holiday season. End of year. One year in this new role. Another opportunity for reflection. So, if you’ll indulge me, I’m going to use this space to personally and professionally reflect on 2024.   more

New Year's resolutions come around like clockwork. Every year, folks decide they're going to make big changes: eat healthier, exercise more or finally tackle that overflowing garage. But if you've been around long enough, you know what usually happens. By Valentine's Day, those resolutions are little more than a fond memory.
Oddly enough, one resolution I've yet to hear is a commitment to not change. It seems we're so busy looking for what's broken that we forget some things are just perfect the way they are now.
Take one of my favorite restaurants, Murry's, as an example. My wife and I still make it a point to go there regularly. I've been a fan ever since I could scrape together enough money during college to treat myself to a real meal. The steak sandwich is legendary — just a slice of French bread and a steak so good that most places would charge you double. And don't get me started on the fried green pepper rings or frog legs. I've tried to find something bad on their menu, but it's a losing battle.
A few years back, my friend Mark bought Murry's from the original owners. I was nervous. Would he turn it into one of those fancy places where you need reservations a month in advance? Would my beloved steak sandwich get replaced by some kind of kale-infused tofu dish? Thankfully, Mark kept everything just the way it was. Same great food. Same great service.
Mark understood that when something ain't broken, it doesn't need fixing.
Lately, as I've been hearing about all the new trends in the electric industry, I can't help but think about that valuable lesson. Solar panels, wind turbines and other technologies are the shiny new "resolutions" making the rounds in the energy sector. 
Don't get me wrong — your electric cooperative is always looking at new ways to serve you better. The technology on display at your cooperative is simply mind-boggling. But amidst all this excitement about innovation, electric cooperatives have not lost sight of what matters most: keeping the lights on for you and your family. more

Merry Christmas! It’s that very special time of year where we get together with loved ones and celebrate our longtime family traditions. Christmas is a joyous time, but it can also be stressful — whether it’s driving long hours to visit family, running to the grocery store to pick up a missing ingredient for Grandma’s cookie recipe, or making sure everyone leaves the house on time to get a front row seat in church. more

This time of year brings many fond memories of growing up in rural Missouri, especially at Christmastime. There were family gatherings, decorating Granny’s sugar cookies with icing and making the Advent calendar in anticipation of counting down to Christmas Day. more

I love this time of year, as I get to enjoy so many fun moments with my grandchildren. Whether it is decorating gingerbread houses, baking cookies or attending their school holiday programs, I cherish seeing their eyes light up and the sparkle in their smiles during this season. more

For my wife, Lindsey, Christmas means a warm fire, a hot cup of tea and decorating the Christmas tree together as a family. For me, it's more about last-minute shopping, risking my life on a ladder to hang thousands of Christmas lights, and assembling a dollhouse or basketball hoop at midnight. The one thing we both agree on is that the holidays are all about traditions.  more

Just like millions of Americans, I’m incredibly relieved that soon we will once again have a leader in the White House who will fight to make our border secure. President-elect Donald Trump will waste no time enacting the policies we need to bring an end to the worst border crisis in American history. He is working around the clock to ensure his administration is ready on day one to begin the process of making our border secure and our communities safe again. more

Over the past few years, education in Missouri has undergone a quiet but seismic shift. What’s most interesting about this change is that it’s happening outside of schools. more

Government programs are not known for moving at a rapid pace. Often, work in the public policy sector is laborious and time-consuming, sometimes taking decades to make significant progress. more

With November begins the busiest shopping season of the year. We’re familiar with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but let’s not overlook Small Business Saturday — a day dedicated to supporting the businesses that keep our communities vibrant and unique. On this day, shop small and make an impact close to home by supporting the shops, services, and makers in our own backyards. more

Ever since I was a young kid, Thanksgiving is something I’ve always looked forward to. It’s a cherished time where we catch up with family, sit down for a delicious meal, and reflect on what we’re grateful for. It’s a tradition that has been celebrated by generation after generation of Americans. more

This time of year is often called football season. Others may call it sweater weather and pumpkin spice latte time. I can almost get on board with those descriptions, but for farmers it’s harvest and calving season. On my farm near Harrisonville, it’s also peak agritourism season, when folks venture to the farm to pick their pumpkins, take photos, build memories and learn about agriculture. more

As we celebrate Veterans Day this month, I reflect on the many veterans who have touched my life.  more

It’s the dawn of a new era in America. After four long years of going from crisis to crisis, a major shakeup in Washington is coming in January. I am eager and ready to work side-by-side with President Donald Trump to get America back on the right track and undo all the damage the Biden-Harris administration inflicted on our great nation. more

I’m going to get a little more personal in today’s column than I usually do, which is really saying something, because I always view these editorials as a little coffee chat. You over there on that side of the table, by the window, and me over here on this side, holding my steaming mug of dirty chai — a blend of coffee and spiced tea, for the uninitiated. It’s my favorite thing. more

Ranked-choice voting is on the rise in the U.S., with two U.S. states and 45 U.S. cities now using some version of it. more

From time to time, friends and acquaintances ask me if they can come watch the proceedings of the Supreme Court of Missouri in Jefferson City. I reply, “Of course, we love having people visit the Court and see us in action.”  more

More than a century ago, a small group of farmers came together in Slater, Missouri, determined to develop an organization to be a voice for agriculture and rural communities. Since Missouri Farm Bureau’s start in 1915, generations of county leaders brought MOFB to where it is today, serving more than 157,000 members across the state. more