Congressman Jason Smith Visits Non-Profit Farm as Part of 4th Annual Farm Tour

Congressman Jason Smith Visits Non-Profit Farm as Part of 4th Annual Farm Tour

Facility is operated by Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help

DeSoto, MO –   Yesterday, Congressman Jason Smith was joined by members of the University of Missouri Extension Council, local farmers and state and elected officials at the non-profit farm operated by the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help from Kirkwood. While at the farm, the Congressman and others toured the extensive garden on the 40-acre property.

“We saw a number of different types of heirloom tomatoes, along with okra, peppers, eggplant, green beans and sunflowers,” said Smith. “The vegetables are organically grown -- and the produce is sold at local farmers’ markets and given to those who can’t afford to grow it for themselves. The farm hosted a potato dig just a few days before our visit and youth came to help dig potatoes and take them home. What a great way for our kids to learn how important agriculture is to the rural Missouri way of life right here in the heart of DeSoto.”

In addition, to the educational center, which sponsored the potato dig, the center also teaches people about agriculture and tries to inspire the next generation of farmers and even received a grant recently from the Pujols Family Foundation to educate children with Down Syndrome about agriculture. Farm Manager Maurice Lange, also stays busy trying new methods to grow vegetables and uses small movable high tunnels for seedling production; also of interest the farm has a pollinator garden with plants to attract bees and milkweed to lure the Monarch butterfly.

Two members of Congressman Smith’s Agriculture Advisory Board, Mike Huskey and Wade Roop also attended the event. Congressman Smith is spending 2 weeks visiting different farming operations throughout southeast and south central Missouri. He will cover nearly 3,000 miles while crisscrossing all 30 counties in Missouri’s 8th District. In addition to hearing directly from the families and farmers about the operations they are running, the farm tour will also highlight the diversity, importance and prominence of agriculture in Missouri’s 8th Congressional District.