Local legislator selected for drought recovery panel

State Rep. Steve Hodges, D-East Prairie, has been selected as part of a group of legislators and citizens who will evaluate the effect of this year's drought on Missouri's agriculture industry.

Hodges was selected by House Speaker Pro Tem Shane Schoeller, R-Willard, to serve as a member of the Interim Commission on Agriculture Innovation and Economic Recovery.

Rep. Bill Reiboldt, R-Neosho, will head the commission.

As part of the commission, Hodges will travel around the state to gather public input to assess the damage that has been done to the state's agriculture industry as the result of this summer's drought and the poor.

The following House members will serve on the commission in addition to Reiboldt and Hodges: Reps. Jay Hougton, R-Martinsburg; Tony Dugger, R-Hartville; and Diane Franklin, R-Camdenton. In addition, the citizen members are Lonny Duckworth of Duckworth Farms, Lloyd Gunter of Gunter Farms, Brent Sandidge of Ham Hills Farms and Greg Sharpe of Pioneer Seed.

The commission plans to announce its first public hearing this week.

Pertinent address:

Jefferson City, MO