Bringing Real Action to Rural Agriculture – Not Just Election-Year Optics

Summary

Mark Alford is promoting a year-old farm bill that’s still stuck in committee. I’ll work to pass it — and go further — by creating apprenticeship grants so Missouri farms stay in Missourian hands, not corporate ones.

Bringing Real Action to Rural Agriculture — Not Just Election-Year Optics

By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House — Missouri’s 4th District

On August 8, 2025, Congressman Mark Alford’s office promoted the Growing Opportunities in Agriculture (GO Ag) Act. It sounds new, but it isn’t. The bill was introduced on March 19, 2024 — and it’s still sitting in committee with no movement.

So why the big splash now? Because it’s campaign season. Dusting off an old, stalled bill makes for headlines, not help. Our farmers deserve more than a press release. They deserve results.

If a bill truly matters, you work it. You build a coalition, get hearings, and move it to a vote. You don’t put your name on it, let it stall, and bring it back when you need attention. That’s not leadership. That’s optics.

What I’ll Do Differently

When I’m elected as your congressman, I’ll push to actually pass the GO Ag Act — and then go further. Here’s how:

• Farmer Apprenticeship Grants: Create federal grants so experienced farmers can train young Missourians on real farms. This keeps skills local and keeps farms locally owned.
• Stronger Rural Workforce Pathways: Link high schools, community colleges, and ag programs to hands-on jobs in crops, livestock, mechanics, and ag tech.
• Infrastructure and Broadband: Fix farm-to-market roads and finish rural broadband so students can learn and businesses can flourish.
• Veterans & Transitioning Service Members: Provide pathways from service to ag apprenticeships and farm ownership.

Why This Matters

Family farms are the backbone of Missouri. They feed our communities, strengthen our towns, and preserve values of hard work and fairness. Big money and D.C. insiders may not understand that—but I do. My vision is for the next generation of farmers to inherit both land and opportunity.

Our rural communities can’t afford more political showboating. They need a representative who fights for progress, protects Missouri’s agricultural heritage, and prioritizes people over special interests.

Sources:

Congress.gov – H.R. 7731, Growing Opportunities in Agriculture Act (Introduced March 19, 2024)

Thompson Media Release — “Thompson, Alford, Cuellar, Panetta Lead Effort to Bolster Agriculture Education” (August 8, 2025)

Northwest PA News — “Bipartisan group introduces GO Ag Act aiming at boosting high school agriculture education” (posted August 8, 2025)