Press Release
For Immediate Release: Contact: Jerry Dowell
October 11, 2004 (573) 449-2385
Graham Criticizes State’s Largest Family Farm Organization and Family Farmers
Farm Bureau Calls Graham’s Comments “Offensive”
(Columbia, MO) – At the Boone County Smart Growth Candidate Forum in Columbia on October 6th, Chuck Graham openly criticized the Missouri Farm Bureau for their work to help family farmers.
“There is a disconnect between family farmers and what they understand politically,” stated Graham. “What we need to do is support organizations like Missouri Farmers Union instead of places like the Missouri Farm Bureau, who are only going to work for corporate agriculture and not family farms anymore.”
The Missouri Farm Bureau is the largest family farmer organization in Missouri with over 100,000 members statewide and represents many farm families in the 19th District. The policies Graham criticizes are supported by farm family members themselves, as they meet every December to vote on those policies they want Farm Bureau to advocate on their behalf in front of the General Assembly.
“Chuck Graham is out of touch with rural Missouri and by his comments believes that family farmers are not smart enough to decide who they choose to represent their interests,” stated Republican State Senate Candidate Mike Ditmore. He needs to apologize to Missouri Farm Bureau, their member farmers and ranchers and all farmers who belong to commodity groups fighting for their interests.”
Charlie Kruse, President of Missouri Farm Bureau responded by saying, “As a fourth generation farmer, and on behalf of Farm Bureau members, I find Chuck Graham’s attack very offensive, not to mention wrong. Mike Ditmore was endorsed by Missouri Farm Bureau after a process in which FARM-PAC trustees conducted candidate interviews, compared candidates’ positions on issues based on their responses to an extensive, written questionnaire and Chuck Graham’s voting record. Chuck Graham’s remarks confirm his lack of respect for our organization, but more importantly, his policy positions are not in line with those of our member farm families – Missouri farmers and ranchers who decide Farm Bureau policy positions.”
“I am extremely proud to have received the endorsement of Missouri’s largest farm family organization,” remarked Ditmore. “I was raised on my family’s farm, I know the difficulties that farmers face everyday and in the State Senate I will respect family farmers and the views of the Missouri Farm Bureau,” concluded Ditmore.
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