WEST PLAINS, MO – On August 8, 2017, Congressman Jason Smith stopped at Ozark Regional Stock Yards in Howell County to see firsthand how this local agribusiness and small employer impacts the West Plains community.
Owner Randy Hoover opened Ozark Regional Stock Yards in 1983 and now sells cattle in a 100-mile radius.
“Ozark Regional Stock Yards is a big economic driver for the West Plains area,” said Congressman Smith. “It’s exciting to see folks coming from all over to buy and sell cattle for their farms. New hotels have opened in the area, restaurants are busy, and the agricultural economy is thriving.”
In a week, this agribusiness can see upwards of 5,000 calves and cattle sold. Hoover normally employs 30 to 40 people, but shared that it’s difficult to compete with robust federal welfare programs which gives adults more incentive to collect a welfare check than coming to work on the farm.
“I’ve heard so many times during my focus on farms that people can make just as much money or, in some cases, more money on government programs than they can by doing an honest day’s work,” said Congressman Smith. “That’s why I’ve supported legislation to strengthen work requirements for public assistance programs.”
Smith sponsored The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Reform Act of 2017 (H.R. 2996), which would help reduce poverty and government dependency, increase self-sufficiency, and restore families by strengthening the effective and popular work requirements for all “able-bodied adults without dependents” (ABAWDS) who receive food stamps from SNAP.
“There is a tremendous amount of pride in knowing you worked hard for what you earned,” said Congressman Smith. “That’s how I grew up, and I think it’s important to pass that work ethic along and not let folks just get something for nothing.”
This is the fifth year in a row that Congressman Jason Smith has dedicated the month of August to focus on farms in southeast and south central Missouri. Throughout this month, Congressman Smith will visit Missouri’s agricultural operations to hear directly from farmers, ranchers and agriculture industry professionals to get a better understanding of what challenges they are facing and how he can help as they work to feed and supply America.
One of the biggest concerns Smith heard about during last August’s focus on farms was the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) regulation, which sought to federally regulate every drop of water on Missouri farmers’ land. In the last year, Smith worked directly with the Trump Administration to stop this rule and relieve Missouri farmers from the burden of WOTUS.
Congressman Smith has plans to stop at farms in each of the 30 counties in Missouri's Eighth Congressional District as he has done every August since he was elected. This year’s focus on farms will highlight the people in our area who run these operations and the tremendous impact that agriculture has on the economy and rural way of life in southeast and south central Missouri.
