Missouri Agriculture Teams Up With St. Louis Cardinals

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.)–For the second year, a coalition of Missouri agricultural organizations is working together to launch a summer educational campaign with the St. Louis Cardinals. Themed Safe at the Plate, the goal of this Missouri Farmers Care initiative is to increase consumer understanding of how today’s farmers are using the latest technology to provide reliable, affordable, nutritious food. And the agricultural coalition is bringing back a heavy hitter.

St. Louis Cardinals left-fielder Matt Holliday is once again teaming up with Missouri commodity groups and agribusiness allies to highlight the great strides farmers are making in meeting the nation’s growing nutritional needs. Holliday is partnering with Missouri farmers on this summer’s educational campaign that includes radio ads, videos of Cardinals mascot Fredbird on the farm, an AgriMissouri™ gift basket giveaway at every Friday night home game, print advertising and promotional materials.

“Missouri agriculture is evolving to meet the needs of today’s growing population, but our commitment to safe food production, our families and our communities is still very much the same,” said Gary Porter, a corn farmer from Mercer, Mo., being featured in the Safe at the Plate educational campaign. “It is exciting to partner with the St. Louis Cardinals to give consumers a closer look at what goes on at the farm level and share some insight on how their food is produced.”

Other Missouri farm families participating in the educational campaign include:

• Kevin and Chris Chinn, hog farmers from Clarence, Mo.
• Stan and Mary Bonacker, beef farmers from Cedar Hill, Mo.
• Paul and Cindy Heins, dairy farmers from Higginsville, Mo.

In addition to learning more about Missouri agriculture through the St. Louis Cardinals campaign, Missouri residents can visit www.MoFarmersCare.com to tour six farms and enter the Missouri Farmers Care Free Grocery Giveaway for a chance to win $500 in grocery gift cards. Consumers can register for the giveaway online by watching videos featuring St. Louis Cardinals mascot Fredbird as he visits beef, pork, dairy, poultry, soybean and corn farms. Following the video, visitors will be asked to answer a question about the featured farmer to register for free groceries. One winner will be selected each month in June, July and August.

“Farmers work hard every day to produce food for our own families and millions of consumers across the globe,” said Porter. “Whether you’re sitting down to dinner with your family, or grabbing a bite at the ballpark, we want consumers to feel confident farmers have their best interests in mind.”

Sponsors of this summer’s Missouri Farmers Care Safe at the Plate educational initiative include the Missouri Pork Association, Missouri Beef Industry Council, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, Midwest Dairy Association, MFA Oil, FCS Financial, Missouri Farm Bureau, MFA Incorporated and the St. Louis AgriBusiness Club.

To learn more about Missouri agriculture, register to win $500 in free groceries, find great recipes and more, visit www.MoFarmersCare.com.