This week, the Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee heard a bill, SB16,  introduced by my Senate colleague Sen. Brian Munzlinger, which deals with child labor requirements on rural Missouri farms.

The federal government, in its autocracy, has passed measures restricting children who work on their own family’s farms. Youth under the age of 16 would be required to obtain a work permit and report the hours and days of work, along with several other restrictions in these federal mandates. While this is intended to protect children, it is stifling to a small family farm that has raised their children as a working part of their day-to-day operation.  

Young Missourians have been working on their own family farms as long as anyone can remember, and many adults today have fond memories of working on the farms. For many youth in rural areas, it’s the first real job they have. There are a number of tasks that a younger child can perform while working on the family farm, while they are taught a strong work ethic, responsibility, and character at an early age.  

We all know that family farms are on the decline in this nation. I support this legislation because much of America was built on the family farm, and we need to return to the days when the family farm was the backbone of our country.  

Always feel free to contact me throughout the year with any comments, questions, or issues by calling my office at (573) 751-5713 or by visiting my website at www.senate.mo.gov/brown. 

Thank you for reading this and for your participation in state government.