License to promote Missouri agriculture

It's almost certain that while driving down the road you've seen specialty license plates bearing the MU, 4-H or Children's Trust Fund logo. In the near future, license plates that support educating students about agriculture may be added to that mix. Missouri Farm Bureau works diligently to bring agricultural education to classrooms across the state. Now, legislation passed in 2004 is making it possible for Missourians to show their support for the Agriculture in the Classroom (AIC) program through a specialty license plate.

Every year, AIC brings agriculture to life in rural and urban classrooms by providing mini-grants to teachers, sponsoring learning activities at the state fair and new web-based programs.

Funds collected from the license plate sales will be used for AIC efforts. Legislation, however, is just the first step in the process to get the license plates into production and onto Missouri vehicles.

Farm Bureau will submit a design approved by the MFB board of directors to the Department of Revenue for review. After the review, the plate goes through a public approval process and receives final authorization by a joint legislative committee. To get the license plate into production, Farm Bureau must collect 200 applications and appropriate licensing fees for the Department of Revenue. Within a year of receiving the 200 applications, the plates will be produced.

Missourian's interested in obtaining an AIC license plate can request them through the MFB home office or their county office. An application to print and fill out is now available. Please mail the application to Julie Waldrop, Missouri Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Programs, P.O. Box 658, Jefferson City, MO 65109. Vehicle owners must make an annual $25 donation to AIC and pay a $15 specialty license plate fee in addition to regular licensing requirements to obtain the plates. The entire $25 tax-deductible donation will be used for AIC. Farm Bureau plans to use funds collected from the license plates to enhance efforts to promote agricultural literacy.

Any vehicle not in excess of 18,000 pounds is eligible for the special license plates. For more information on obtaining the plates please contact Diane Olson at (573) 893-1414 or dolson@mofb.com.