Cape News

Rep. Jason Smith, U.S. Congressman representing Missouri’s 8th district since 2013, shared updates this week on visits to several family farms in southeast Missouri, highlighting discussions with local farmers about the challenges they face.

On August 7, Smith posted about his visit to Perry County: "This week I visited Sauer Farms in Perry County, where Mike Sauer and his brother‑in‑law Paul Koeper raise honey bees alongside their 126‑acre cow/calf operation. They run black angus and charolais cows with Black Hereford bulls and maintain thriving hives too. Mike and Paul" (August 7, 2025).

Later that day, he described another stop at a Jackson-area ranch: "I had the chance to visit Highland Dells Ranch in Jackson, where Steve Stroder and his wife Angie raise a heard of Scottish Highland cattle. We had a great discussion about the challenges facing Missouri farm families—from the burden of high interest rates to the need for" (August 7, 2025).

In an evening post on August 7, Smith wrote about meeting with another family: "I had the privilege of visiting with Obed and Wanda Rhodes and their family in Bollinger County, where they operate Rhodes Farms, a cow-calf operation that includes two Century Farms on the property. We talked about the everyday challenges farm families face—like burdensome" (August 7, 2025).

Smith has represented Missouri’s largely rural 8th District since succeeding Jo Ann Emerson in Congress in 2013. He previously served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2005 to 2013. Born in St Louis in 1980 and currently residing in Salem, Smith holds degrees from both the University of Missouri (BS) and Oklahoma City University (JD).