U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson was raised to put people before politics, and during her five terms in the House of Representatives she has done just that. She is the first Republican woman to represent Missouri in Congress, where she is a leading advocate for farm families and the promotion of America’s agriculture, hunger relief, pro-life issues, and access to safe, affordable prescription drugs.

Jo Ann represents the 28 counties of Southern Missouri’s agriculturally diverse Eighth District, from the Mississippi River valley, through the Bootheel flatlands, and to the timberlands and clear streams of the Ozarks. Agricultural products including cotton, corn, rice, grapes, trout, forest products, and livestock are produced there. Over 90% of America's lead production is located in the Eighth District. Each August, Jo Ann conducts a Farm Tour to visit the wide variety of farms, laboratories, forests, and ranches in Missouri’s Eighth District.

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Jo Ann sits on the Agriculture, Homeland Security, and Energy and Water Development Subcommittees. She believes her extensive involvement in rural farm issues, national defense, and flood control enables her to serve her constituents to the best of her abilities.

After earning a B.A. in political science from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1972, Jo Ann pursued an active career in public affairs and grassroots communications. In her professional career, Jo Ann has served as the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for the American Insurance Association, as Director of State Relations and Grassroots Programs for the small-business oriented National Restaurant Association, and as Deputy Communications Director for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Currently, Jo Ann serves as chairperson of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Committee on the Civil Dimension of Security. She is also an Honorary and Life Trustee of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. A former Girl Scout, Jo Ann is a leading supporter of the organization in Congress. She is co-chair of the Board of Directors for the Congressional Hunger Center and a member of the board of Bread for the World, two of the nation’s leading hunger relief organizations. Jo Ann is also a founding member of the Bipartisan Congressional Retreat, whose mission is to foster better relations in Congress with Members from each party. She was recognized as one of the American Bus Association’s 2005 Legislators of the Year and earned the 2005 Committed Statesperson Award from the National MS Society. Each Thursday morning when Congress is in session, Jo Ann attends the Congressional Prayer Group, of which she has served as President. In February of 2005, Jo Ann chaired the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington.

As a wife, mother, and grandmother, family is the foremost priority in Jo Ann’s life. She is married to Ron Gladney, an attorney, and is the proud mother of two daughters, Victoria and Katharine, five stepdaughters, Elizabeth Emerson Leger and Abigail Emerson Gilhooley, and Alison, Jessica and Stephanie Gladney, and one stepson, Sam Gladney. Most recently, Jo Ann is the proud grandmother of Cooper O’Brien Leger, Margaret Browning Gilhooley and Curt William Leger. She lives in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.