EMERSON TO MISS FARM EVENT, WILL FIELD PHONE CALLS

SIKESTON -- Rep. Bill Emerson won't make a scheduled appearance at Sikeston Monday, but he will be available to field questions via telephone.

Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, was scheduled to discuss "Farm Policy Into the 21st Century" during a noon address at the Rural Restoration Conference Monday.

A spokesman of the Adopt-A-Farm Family of America, organizer and sponsor of the three-day extravaganza which opens today, said Saturday that Emerson was unable to attend the meeting due to illness.

Lloyd Smith, chief of staff for Emerson, will appear at the noon luncheon Monday. He will put the public into contact with Emerson via telephone.

Emerson, who has been diagnosed as having lung cancer, is scheduled for a treatment Monday.

Bill Helming, a noted agricultural economist, will discuss a "National Consumption Tax" when he appears at the noon luncheon and general session Tuesday.

Other speakers include Jane Herlong, a former Miss Carolina, who will discuss "Living on the Edge," and Russ Johnston, who sill discuss a "Vision For the Future."

The conference, which starts today, features a gospel concert by Susie Paul Luchsinger. Luchsinger is the sister of Reba McIntire.

Tickets for the concert are free.

Registration for the conference starts at 2 p.m. today at the Ramada Inn. A reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the Ramada Dome, and doors will open for the concert at 6:30.

Peter C Myers Sr. of the Myers Land Management Co. and a sponsor of the conference, will officially welcome visitors prior to the 7:30 concert. Myers of Sikeston is a former U.S. deputy secretary of agriculture and currently serves as president of Adopt A Farm Family of America, which is a Christian Outreach program to farmers and ranchers.

Other sponsors of the conference are: Delta Growers Association, Mid-Valley Irrigation Co., and Hurley & Associates, all of Charleston; Don King Equipment Co., Bill Green Equipment Co., Meeks Printing Co., Southwestern Bell Telephone, Calvary Temple Assembly of God Church and Tanner Street Church of God, all of Sikeston; and First Security State Bank of East Prairie.

A number of workshops will be conducted Monday and Tuesday. Subjects include soil life, crop performance, how to prosper as a grain producer, family business, estate planning for farmers, and setting goals with Christian principles.

Helming will explain his plan for abolishing the current federal income and Social Security tax systems with a proposed National Consumption Tax, which already has been presented to a number of U.S. congressmen.

The three-day schedule:

Today

2 to 5 p.m. -- Registration, Ramada Inn.

5:30 p.m. -- Reception, Ramada Dome area.

6:30 p.m. -- Doors open for concert.

7:15 p.m. -- Meyers to address visitors.

7:30 p.m. -- Luchsinger concert and worship, with the Rev. Carl Addison.

Monday

6:15 a.m. -- Prayer, Ramada Inn Rooms, 110-112.

8 a.m. -- General session in banquet area, Steve McPheeters, master of ceremonies: Group music, pledge, national anthem, prayer, Jane Herlong to speak.

9:30 a.m. -- Workshops: Sid Love, "Commodity Outlook Next Five Years," West Room; Rick Hepler, "Estate Planning," Room 101; Janie Pfefferkorn, "Unforgiveness," Executive Room.

10:50 a.m. - Workshops: Ron Eberhard, "It's in the Blood," West Room; Alan Knobloch, "Marketing with Options," Room 101; Katherine Sobey, "Prayer," Executive Room.

Noon -- Lunch and General Session, banquet area: Lanie Black, master of ceremonies; Bill Emerson, keynote speaker, "Farm Policy Into the 21st Century," Ron Goodman and Alissa Arnold, special music.

2 p.m. -- Workshops: Eberhard, "It's In the Blood," West Room; Love, "Commodity Outlook," Room 101; David Hurley, "Psychology of Marketing," Room 201; Mona McReynolds, "Recognizing Spiritual Gifts," Executive Room.

4 p.m. -- Workshops: Carroll Montgomery, "Soil Life," West Room; Hepler, "Estate Planning," Room 101; Annie Schumacher, "Marriage," Executive Room; Krista Hardecke, "Distributing Trends in Education," Room 201.

6 p.m. -- Fellowship dinner in banquet area: Delight Wier, master of ceremonies; group music; special music by Gertrude Blackford, Diane and Johnathan Wier and Tanner Street Church of God Singers. Melissa Seaver to discuss "Faith in God on Family Farms."

Tuesday

6:15 a.m. -- Prayer, Rooms 110-112.

8 a.m. -- General session, banquet area: Jerry Tomlinson, master of ceremonies, special music by Tina Scott and Diane Stephens; Russ Johnston, guest speaker.

9:30 a.m. -- Workshops: Montgomery, "Soil Life," West Room; Alan Knoblock, "Marketing with Options," Room 101; Liz Cunningham, "'Tis a Family Affair," Executive Room; Ida Hurley and Mike McReynolds, "Setting Goals with Christian Principles," Room 201.

10:50 -- Workshops: Hardecke, "Trends in Education;" Hurley and McReynolds, "Setting Goals," West Room; Panel discussion on "Women Mentoring Women and Promise Keepers," Executive Room.

Noon: Lunch and general session, banquet area: Johnston, master of ceremonies, special musing by Cindie and Mike McReynolds; Bill Helming, keynote speaker.

Following closing, the Surplus Food Ministry will meet with local vegetable growers.