1997 RURAL CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT SIKESTON

SIKESTON -- Adopt A Farm Family of America is already making plans for the 1997 Rural Restoration Conference.

"We'll hold the conference at Sikeston again," said Peter C. Myers Sr. of Myers Land Management Co. and a sponsor of the conference, which ended this week with keynote addresses by Rep. Bill Emerson and noted economist Bill Helming, president and owner of Helming Consulting Services Inc.

The 1997 event will be held in February at the Ramada Inn.

More than 20 speakers and, or performers were on the three-day, 1996 schedule, covering an array of subjects from estate planning for farm families to marketing agriculture products and from gospel music concerts to Christian principles discussions.

"The purpose of this farm conference is to provide farmers with marketing and spiritual information at the same meeting," said Myers. "All too often we don't pray or mention God or Jesus Christ at meetings that have connections with any phase of government."

Workshops at the conference provide marketing information, economic outlooks for agriculture and other planning for farmers, said Myers. Other seminars provide spiritual and Christian fellowship.

1996 marked the sixth year of the conference, said Myers, who is a former U.S. deputy secretary of agriculture and is president of Adopt A Farm Family of America, a Christian outreach program for farmers and ranchers.

The conference, which started in Memphis, Tenn., six years ago, is the idea of Myers' wife, Mary Myers.

Bill Clinton, then governor of Arkansas, and Tim LaHaye, whose wife, Beverly, founded the Concerned Women For America group, were keynote speakers at the first conference in Memphis.

"That was our biggest conference," said Mrs. Myers. "We had more than 400 people in attendance for the two days of workshops."

More than 400 people were in attendance at the Paul and Susie Luchsinger gospel concert in Sikeston during the first day of the conference Sunday. About 100 were present for Monday and Tuesday workshop sessions.

The attendance was down from the average of the past five, which has averaged aboaut 200 people.

"But this was the first year for the conference at Sikeston," said Peter Myers. "We hope to make it an annual convention here.

"The Adopt a Farm Family of America board has already decided to hold the conference here next year," said Mrs. Myers, "It will be held the weekend of Feb. 16."

During the past three years, the conference has been held at Decatur, Ill.. Following the initial conference at Memphis, the second one was held at Kansas City.

Present at this week's conference were a number of farmers form the Decatur, Ill., area.

Mrs. Myers was pleased with the attendance for the gospel concert, which featured Susie and Paul Luchsinger. Susie Luchsinger, sister of Reba McEntire, has won many singing awards. Paul Luchsinger is a world-class rodeo cowboy.

As many as 800 people heard the Luchsingers. More than 400 attended a Sunday evening concert at the Ramada Inn. "Another 400 attended a concert held at a Sikeston church Sunday morning," said Mrs. Myers.

The 1997 event will include some programming for children. "Twenty-four children who are home-schooled were present Monday and Tuesday," said Myers.