JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Farm Bureau Political Action Committee (MOFB PAC) has endorsed Vicky Hartzler in the upcoming August 2022 primary for Missouri’s open United States Senate seat. Today’s announcement marks the first time that Missouri Farm Bureau has endorsed a candidate in an open U.S. Senate primary election. The six-term U.S. House Representative from Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District is seeking the seat being vacated by Senator Roy Blunt, who is retiring at the end of his current term.
Hartzler, who lives on a farm just outside of Harrisonville with her husband Lowell, served in the Missouri House of Representatives for six years. After returning home to the farm to raise their daughter, Tiffany, she ran for her first term in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010, defeating 17-term incumbent Ike Skelton. A lifelong farmer, Hartzler has served on both the Agriculture and Armed Services Committees throughout her tenure in Washington, D.C., highlighted during her current term as the ranking member of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee.
Hartzler has long been affiliated with Farm Bureau. Over 30 years ago, she and her husband Lowell chaired the statewide MOFB Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. Before being elected to Congress, she served as President of Cass County Farm Bureau, as her father did before her. MOFB endorsed Hartzler in each of her six races for the U.S. House.
“Our PAC trustees know how important this Senate race is to keeping our rural way of life represented in Washington”, said Garrett Hawkins, President of Missouri Farm Bureau and a farmer from St. Clair County. “Vicky Hartzler has come up through the ranks of Missouri Farm Bureau and has proven time and again that she has what it takes to bring our Missouri values to Washington. We look forward to working with her on a successful race”.
“Vicky Hartzler supports rural Missouri more than anyone else you could possibly find,” said Trent Drake, Chairman of the MOFB PAC. “In a race this important, we absolutely must pick a Senator who knows and understands Missouri’s number-one industry, agriculture. Vicky will be the strong voice for rural Missouri that we need, and we are proud to give her Missouri Farm Bureau’s full support.”
Hartzler was raised on a farm near Archie and attended both the University of Missouri (B.S.) and the University of Central Missouri (M.S.), where she earned degrees in education. Prior to running for the office in Missouri, Hartzler was a teacher for 11 years.
Trustees are selected by their county Farm Bureau organizations, and every Missouri county was permitted a representative as part of this historic endorsement.
Missouri Farm Bureau is the state’s largest agriculture advocacy organization. To learn more about its work on behalf of Missourians, visit our website.