Director of Agriculture Chinn authors a monthly column in Missouri Ruralist entitled Ag Matters. Below is this month’s column.
JEFFERSON CITY — I’m from rural Missouri, and proud of it. As we prepare to celebrate National Ag Week in March, it’s fitting to reflect on the life experiences we’ve had that ignited our passion for the industry. Most of us in agriculture come from rural communities, and the experience of living in those communities shapes us into who we become as adults. Those experiences have made me the leader I am today, and they are the reason I launched the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s MORE initiative to ensure the place we call home survives and thrives for our children and their children.
Growing up in a rural community taught me many valuable lessons that I’ve carried with me in life. I learned it’s important to have dedication, integrity and courage. My parents instilled in me a work ethic that emphasizes hard work and determination. If you start a job, you see it through to the end. I remember my dad telling me as a child, “If you do a job right the first time, you won’t have to do it a second time.” I think about those words when I’m doing a task I may not enjoy; they help motivate me to do a good job.
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— Missouri Department of Agriculture
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