Stoddard County, Missouri - Danny Talkington, County Commission District 1 has worked diligently over the past 3 and 1/2 years to get monies appropriated and spent on bridge repair and drainage work in the Pike Township, Castor Township, and Duck Creek Township.
In Pike Township more than $906,000 has either already been spent or is appropriated for bridge repair and drainage work. In Castor Township, more than $759,000 has been spent on bridge repair or will be spent relatively soon and in the Duck Creek Township more than $440,000 has been or will be spent on bridge repair. That's over two million dollars of funds spent or appropriated to be spent for much needed repairs.
What's great about this money is that it is 80% funded by the Federal Gas Tax and only 20% came from local Stoddard County tax dollars. There were no additional costs to residents in the three townships.
Talkington said, "The north end of Stoddard County is receiving this money largely do to his and other Commissioners' efforts and it is my hope to continue to do so for the next two years."
Barry Aycock got the chance of a lifetime at a recent Meet the Candidate dinner in St. Louis, Missouri. He and about 20 constituents were able to have dinner with Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. He was one of four from the group who was chosen to ask her questions. His topics were EPA and Agricultural issues.
"I asked her a question about how agriculture is a National Security Interest," stated Aycock who owns AgXplore International in Parma, Missouri. 'Since we had just eaten a good meal and our bellies were full I thought it to be an appropriate question and she answered with an excellent response."
"I think agriculture is a great national security interest since I just voted to get the new Farm Bill passed," Clinton responded. "Food and fiber are quite important in our life."
As she was escorted out of the building by the Secret Service she thanked Mr. Aycock for asking that particular question. "My belly was full like everyone else!" she remarked as she shook his hand.
Bernie, Missouri - On Tuesday, July 26th, as part of his 4th Annual Farm Tour Congressman Jason Smith visited Martin Rice in Bernie to view the rice operations and speak with owners Tim, David and Mike Martin about their industry, how the rice mill operates, and the issues they are facing.
Smith commented, “Great companies like Martin Rice make it possible for Missouri to be one of the largest rice-growing states in America. And, after over 50 years of growing and processing rice, the hardworking folks at Martin Rice continue to push themselves to provide the highest quality product. Companies like Martin Rice are exactly why Missouri's 8th District is recognized throughout our state and the nation as being a leader in agriculture and I am very proud of the work they do to showcase our region.”
The Martin Rice Company is owned and operated by the Martin family who have been in the farming business in the Missouri bootheel for over 50 years. Martin Rice Company today produces Long Grain and Jasmine rice on over 7,000 acres of farmland in Southeast Missouri. Martin Rice Company is shipped worldwide and is one of only a few U.S. companies to grow jasmine rice, which is normally imported from Thailand.
This year’s Congressional Farm Tour will span roughly two weeks and cover nearly 3,000 miles while crisscrossing all 30 counties in Missouri’s 8th District. In addition to hearing directly from the families and farmers about the operations they are running right here in southeast and south central Missouri, the farm tour will also highlight the diversity, importance and prominence of agriculture in Missouri’s 8th Congressional District.
Stoddard County, Missouri - Danny Talkington has three plus years serving as our Stoddard County Commissioner District One. He again is asking for your vote this year at the August primary.
“I believe in a common sense, conservative approach to spending the taxpayers money,” stated Talkington.
Danny holds Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Memphis State University and has 30 plus hours of graduate courses from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.
He has been married to his lovely wife Sondra Tucker Talkington for 50 years and has two children, five grand children, and two great grand children.
He is extremely active in the Dexter Rotary Club, Bell City Rotary Club, Stoddard County Rotary Interact, Secretary of the Stoddard County Republican Committee, and volunteers with the Essex Church of Christ Food Bank.
Talkington has 28 years of manufacturing and wholesale distribution experience holding positions of general accountant, plant controller, chief financial officer, vice president of manufacturing and company president. He has also worked in several states including Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama and North Carolina.
Danny returned to Stoddard County in 1998 to farm. While farming he also worked 16 years in tax preparation and auditing at Jean & Company CPAs.
His experience as Board of Trustees at Freed-Hardeman University for 23 years gave him an opportunity at the university level to serve as Chairman of the Finance Committee, Assistant Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Secretary of the Board of Trustees and a member of the Investment Committee.
Since serving as the Stoddard County Commissioner the county has constructed 4 bridges and have 8 bridges in process in the past three years. Prior to that the county only constructed one bridge a couple of years before becoming Commissioner.
“We are pursuing improvements all over the county,” commented Talkington. “The infrastructure is so critical for our county. We continue to look for ways to improve the county for all of our residents.”
Shown in the photo are Sondra and Danny Talkington who just celebrated 50 years of marriage.
Congressman Jason Smith Capitol Report
A Favorite Tradition
July 22, 2016
Next week marks the start of one of my favorite annual traditions, the 8th Congressional District Farm Tour. In southeast and south central Missouri we know agriculture is at the heart of not only our economy, but our communities, and our families. The early mornings, late days, and stress associated with mother nature and volatile markets are something everyone is familiar with. But, that way of life also brings many of us together, it helps strengthen the bond of our communities, and teaches the next generation the value of hard work, perseverance and kindness.
These are the same traits handed down to me through seven generations of our family, all of which have called this area home, and it still resides in the amazing people I am honored to meet during this special tradition.
This coming week, I look forward to beginning my 4th annual Farm Tour which will take me nearly 3,000 miles crisscrossing across all 30 counties of Missouri’s 8th Congressional District. It will also encompass over 40 stops and provide a valuable opportunity to hear about issues folks are facing firsthand. These folks and families are a vital part of our state’s number one industry, but they are also unique in their contribution to the broad range of agriculture products we produce. In fact, Missouri’s 8th Congressional District is one of the most diverse agriculture districts in the country, and that is going to be one of our highlights this year.
As an example, most people are probably familiar with the soybeans, rice, cotton, and corn grown in our district, but we also grow peanuts, process honey, and harvest timber. We are also really proud of the quality of our beef and pork, but our region also has several trout and fish farms as well breeders of pheasant and quail for hunting. And, while most of us think about farming especially when we gather at the dinner table there are a number of other industries that play a key role in manufacturing these products. For instance, we have a number of cotton gins and mills to process raw materials, but also biodiesel facilities and a chemical manufacturer that produces environmentally friendly catalysts for spraying applications. Not to mention several companies that uniquely specialize in aerial spraying themselves. Missouri’s wine industry is also taking off and some of the most popular destinations are here in Missouri’s 8th District, both on the east and west ends of the district.
There is so much to be proud of and I am excited to get a closer look at these operations and meet the families behind them over the next two weeks.
There are over 19,000 farms in our district and over 29,000 hardworking folks who tirelessly keep those farms operating for the people not only in Missouri, but across the nation. Agriculture is the backbone of our district and the state of Missouri and I am a firm believer it is what is going to lead us into the future as well. I sincerely look forward to traveling southeast and south central Missouri to listen to the concerns of all of the hardworking folks who make the agriculture industry possible. Often each of them is carrying on the practices within their own family, others are innovators using the values they have learned to create their own opportunity, and for me the experience of meeting and learning from these folks has become very special – traditions we all hope to carry on.
