EMERSON KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR RURAL RESTORATION CONFERENCE

SIKESTON -- U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Cape Girardeau) will be among speakers at the annual Rural Restoration Conference that gets under way Sunday and runs through Tuesday at the Ramada Inn in Sikeston.

Emerson will deliver the keynote address during a general-assembly session at noon Monday.

She will also be part of four-person "Reactor Land Panel," which will discuss ideas and concerns on current and proposed federal legislation and administrative actions.

The purpose of the annual farm conference is to provide farmers with marketing and spiritual help.

Workshops provide marketing information, economic outlooks for agriculture and other planning for farmers, said Peter C. Myers, a former U.S. deputy secretary of agriculture who currently serves as president of Adopt A Farm Family of America, a sponsor of the RRC.

The RRC started in Memphis, Tenn., the idea of his wife, Mary Myers, The couple serves as conference and program coordinators.

President 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.

Joining Emerson on the panel will be Tom Jennings, a corn, soybean, cattle and rice farmer near Morehouse, Mo.; Mike Geske, a corn, wheat, soybean and cotton farmer in the Matthews, Mo. area; and Ron Hardecke, who is in partnership with his brother in a hog-corn farming operation near Owensville, Mo.

Other headliner speakers include Richard Wheeler, owner of Christian Radio Station WJLY, Ramsey, Ill., and Ed Bell, a paraplegic farmer and roadside market operator.

A local speaker will be Elizabeth Wilson, a Sikeston School Board member, who will focus on public education, where it is, and where it is going. She will also conduct workshop sessions during the three-day event.

Also on the schedule is Bryan Sanders, associate professor, Evangel College and Paul and Susie Luchsinger, a husband-wife evangelistic and Country-Christian music team.

Susie Luchsinger, sister of country music singer Reba McEntire, will perform. Luchsinger has had several albums and many number one singles, including "Two in The Saddle," and "Take it to the Rock."

Farmers and their families are encouraged to attend the conference, organized and sponsored by the Adopt A Farm Family of America.

The 1998 conference starts with registration Sunday at 2 p.m.

Registration forms and additional information are available at several agri-businesses or at the Adopt A Farm Family office, P. O. Box B, Sikeston, Mo., 653801. Telephone (573)-472-4674.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Sunday

2 p.m. -- Registration.

5:30 p.m. -- Reception.

7:15 p.m. -- Welcome and opening session, worship service.

8:15 p.m. -- Paul & Susie Luchsinger, in concern and ministry.

Monday

6:15 a.m. -- Prayer session.

7 a.m. -- Breakfast buffet.

8 a.m. -- General session, opening remarks by Jim Schwaninger, executive director of the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce. Speaker, Richard Wheeler.

9:30 a.m. -- Workshop sessions, open to public.

Noon -- Lunch buffet.

12:30 p.m. -- Speaker, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, and special Reactor Land Panel Discussion.

2:15 p.m. -- Worship sessions, open to public.

6 p.m. -- Fellowship dinner. Speaker, Bryan Sanders.

Tuesday (Feb. 18)

6:15 a.m. Prayer session.

7 a.m. -- Breakfast buffet.

8 a.m. General session, Speaker, Ed Bell.

9:30 a.m. -- Workshop sessions, open to public.

Noon -- Noon buffet, closing session. Speaker, Elizabeth Wilson.

Free time during afternoon, fellowship dinner at 6 p.m.