Governor Mike Kehoe has big plans for Missouri’s agriculture industry.
Kehoe, a first-generation farmer, wants to borrow $55 million for new livestock buildings at the Missouri State Fair.
Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn is excited to see the big investment.
“In the last couple of years, we received funding to build the new arena at the Missouri State Fairgrounds. It’s going to be 150,000 square foot in size. It’s really going to allow the Missouri State Fair to be used year-round not only for the two weeks during the fair, but for the other 50 weeks for larger events.”
It’s part of Kehoe’s proposed $53.7 billion budget for the state that lawmakers are currently working on. Kehoe’s administration says that the state fair bonding will be paid back over time by some of the revenues the buildings would generate.
Chinn says it would address a challenge regarding where people will stall their animals for big shows like rodeos.
“One will be a multiuse livestock barn that will have stalls in it and the other will be really focused more towards larger animals, your cattle and your horses. Each of the facilities should hold around 500 stalls. So, that will really make Missouri competitive in trying to host some of those national shows.”
The funds would be paid back over time by a portion of the revenues generated by these buildings.
Misouri is home to over 50 meat and poultry inspection locations. Kehoe wants to spend over $330,000 to expand the state’s inspection program as part of next year’s state budget.
Chinn tells Missourinet that meat and poultry is an important part of the state’s economy.
“Currently, we have businesses that would like to go under state inspection, but we don’t have enough team members to help support their business. So, we are prohibiting commerce from being able to take place. So, he’s putting that money in the budget to allow us to help support this growing sector of our economy.”
Missouri is home to over 50 meat and poultry inspection locations.
-Missourinet
