LEBANON, Mo. – The Laclede County Commission, in partnership with the University of Missouri Extension Council of Laclede County, will host the inaugural Laclede County Commission Agriconomy Week this fall.

This year’s theme is “Growing Laclede County’s Economy Through Agricultural Entrepreneurship,” said Randy Angst, Laclede County presiding commissioner.

“The Commission is thrilled with the success of the 2023 ag tour, and we have decided to continue our partnership with MU Extension, expanding the event into a full week of activities to involve more Laclede County farmers and agriculture enthusiasts,” Angst said. “This demonstrates our commitment to the agricultural community and our belief in the significance of such events in fostering growth and collaboration.”

The week, Sept. 30 to Oct. 4, 2024, offers an opportunity for farmers and policymakers to expand their knowledge and networks. The event will feature activities such as black walnut hulling, a farm-to-table lunch and learn, and an educational agriculture summit and expo hosted by MU Extension. Alongside these events is the traditional, invitation-only Laclede County Commission Agriculture Tour of the county’s family-owned farming locations.

Ben Havens, treasurer of the MU Extension Council of Laclede County and fish hatchery manager for the Missouri Department of Conservation, will serve as the 2024 Ag Week Honorary Chair. Havens and other members of the county extension council are serving on the Ag Week planning committee. The commission has appointed MU Extension regional economic development specialist Ashley Brown to organize the Commission Ag Tour and lead the design of the week’s events.

Brown said that expanding the traditional Ag Tour into a full Ag Week “emphasizes the significant contribution of nearly $400 million in agricultural, fishing and forestry output Laclede County makes to Missouri’s economy year over year.”

In addition to the traditional, invitation-only Ag Tour on Friday, Oct. 4, three other programs are held during the week: an Agriculture and Economy Summit and Expo, a farm-to-table lunch and learn, and a set of new awards for youths in agriculture.

Information on Ag Week 2024 and all programs and offerings are available by visiting the event’s Facebook page at https://bit.ly/AgWeek2024.

The Ag Week planning committee is open to anyone who is interested in participating, and partnerships to support Ag Week 2024 are available by contacting Brown at allen-browna@missouri.edu.

Laclede County is in southwestern Missouri in the state’s the 4th Congressional District and is bordered by Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas and Pulaski counties. Laclede County encompasses 768 square miles. It was organized Feb. 24, 1849, and was named after Pierre Laclede, founder of St. Louis.