It’s time. With no-excuse absentee voting underway and the Aug. 4 primary approaching, many of us are ready to cast our ballots.
For more than a century, Farm Bureau’s strength has come from our members who are willing to stand up, get involved and make their voices heard. Whether it’s attending a county meeting, testifying before the Legislature or calling a neighbor, grassroots engagement has always been at the heart of who we are.
But all of that work comes down to one thing on Election Day: voting.
Every election brings decisions that affect agriculture, private property rights, rural communities and the future of our state. Yet too often, elections are decided by surprisingly few voters. In many local and statewide races, just a handful of votes per precinct can determine the outcome.
That’s why leadership matters. As Farm Bureau leaders, we have something no campaign can buy — relationships. Our neighbors value our opinions because they’ve seen our commitment to agriculture and our communities.
Research consistently shows that a personal reminder from someone you know is one of the most effective ways to encourage voting. Not a television commercial. Not a social media ad. A conversation.
Imagine the impact if every county board member made a commitment to contact 10 Farm Bureau members, friends or family before Election Day. That contact could come through a quick phone call, text message, conversation after church or visit to the coffee shop or local feed store.
If those 10 people tell 10 more, those conversations could result in hundreds or even thousands of additional Farm Bureau members casting their ballots across Missouri.
Ask them if they have a plan to vote. Offer to answer questions about polling locations or election dates — or even ride together to the polls. Encourage them to remind a family member or friend to vote as well.
Grassroots advocacy doesn’t end when the legislative session adjourns. It doesn’t stop after a successful county meeting or at the end of policy development. It continues every time our members show up at the polls.
Our elected officials notice who votes. They notice which communities participate. They notice which organizations consistently engage their members.
Let’s make sure Farm Bureau is one of them.
This election, I ask every member to personally reach out to at least 10 fellow members or neighbors before Election Day to discuss support for our endorsed Amendments 1 and 4, or an endorsed candidate in your district.
Leadership isn’t measured by the meetings we attend or the offices we hold. It’s measured by the people we inspire to participate. When Farm Bureau members vote, agriculture and rural communities have a stronger voice.
