By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – By a 96 percent margin, members of the Missouri Farm Bureau today endorsed Kenny Hulshof for governor.
The endorsement came after both candidates spoke separately to Farm Bureau members, on the final day of a two-day gathering in Jefferson City.
Hulshof touted his background as a farmer to Bureau members.
"We are so varied, from rice and cotton, row crops, livestock, dairy, specialty crops, you name it, we do it here in the state of Missouri...and I have a pretty good understanding of that from my experience as a kid from the farm," Hulshof said.
Nixon says he's not surprised Hulshof got the endorsement.
"They're (going to) support the Republican establishment, we all know that, but out of deep respect for the farm families of our state, and a great place to speak about agriculture policy, we (came) here today," Nixon said.
Both Nixon and Hulshof voiced support for the state's ethanol mandate and other pro-agriculture policies.
They differed on other issues, primarily last year's MOHELA bill.
Hulshof supports the use of higher education funds to pay for new college buildings, while Nixon told Farm Bureau members the plan damages the loan agency's original mission, to make college more affordable.