SAUNDERS WILL SPEAK AT EVENT

JACKSON -- Missouri Director of Agriculture John Saunders will be guest speaker at the annual Byrd Township Democrats barbecue Saturday at the Jackson football stadium.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $2.50.

Saunders, of St. Joseph, owns and operates a 650-acre livestock and grain farm. He was appointed to head the state agriculture department by Gov. Mel Carnahan in March.

As director, he oversees more than 400 employees responsible for regulating and marketing Missouri's agricultural industry.

Saunders has served as vice president of Mercantile Bank of St. Joseph. He is past chairman of the St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce agribusiness committee and a member of the Missouri 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees.

Saunders is also a member of the University of Missouri College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources Foundation Board of Directors and a past president of the MU Agriculture Alumni Board. He is a former president of the Missouri Pork Producers Association and the National Pork Producers Council.

For more information call 243-5249, 243-8074, or 243-8334.