Chinn
JEFFERSON CITY — Former Gov. Eric Greitens has been out of office for six years, but his legacy will live on in Mike Kehoe’s cabinet.
Kehoe, the Republican lieutenant governor who was elected Missouri’s 58th chief executive on Nov. 5, announced Monday he is retaining Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn when he takes office in January.
“Director Chinn knows Missouri agriculture, and I am proud to have her on our team as we expand our ag industry and support the farmers who feed, fuel, and clothe the world,†the governor-elect said.
Chinn is a fifth-generation farmer who was hired as ag director in 2017. She replaced Richard Fordyce who had served under Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon.
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Chinn, her husband Kevin, and their children raise hogs, cattle, corn, soybeans, and hay as well as operate their family feed mill in Clarence in northeast Missouri.
“I would like to thank Governor-Elect Kehoe for the opportunity to continue leading the department and working for Missouri’s farm families,†Chinn said. “My team and I look forward to continuing to promote and protect our state’s top economic driver.â€
Kehoe’s decision to keep Chinn in the $155,000-per-year position aligns with Gov. Mike Parson, who kept Chinn on his cabinet when he took over for the scandal-plagued Greitens in 2018.
Agriculture is a nearly $94 billion industry in Missouri, employing an estimated 460,000 people. The state ranks in the top five nationally in beef cattle, goats, rice, cotton and turkey.
Kehoe earlier announced that Ken Zellers will remain as head of the Office of Administration and Dan Haug would stay in his job as budget director. He also is keeping Michelle Hataway as director of the Department of Economic Development.
During her tenure at the Department of Agriculture, Chinn has helped direct an expansion of the state’s meatpacking industry.
Among major projects underway is the Wisconsin-based American Foods Group $800 million cattle processing facility being built south of Interstate 70 near Wright City.
The plant will employ an expected 1,300 workers to process 2,400 cows per day.
Chinn also has helped navigate an ongoing drought that has affected cattle and crop prices.
In a recent report, Chinn said the recent harvest was good for farmers who planted corn but not for those who grew soybeans.
“It just hasn’t let up,†she said of the drought conditions.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the department distributed $20 million in emergency aid to 176 small meat processors to keep them afloat and to help expand production to secure the state’s food supplies.
She also had to cancel the 2020 Missouri State Fair because of the pandemic.
