JEFFERSON CITY — State Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, has been elected as the first vice president of the State Agriculture and Rural Leaders (SARL) group, which met over the weekend for its annual Legislative Agriculture Chairs Summit.

“This will prove to be another critical year for both the direction and future of agriculture in Missouri,” Sen. Munzlinger said. “It is a privilege to serve on the State Agriculture and Rural Leaders group, especially in a leadership position. Much like my work in the Missouri Senate, my commitment remains to keeping agriculture at the forefront of peoples’ minds throughout Missouri.”

State Agriculture and Rural Leaders is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering cooperation and leadership among state and provincial legislators that are passionate about agriculture and rural communities. Organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, the group provides and promotes educational opportunities for state officials and others on agricultural technology, policy, processes and issues.

The 2015 Legislative Agriculture Chairs Summit brought together legislators from around the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico for a four-day conference dedicated to fostering discussion among legislators about rural policy issues. Attendees included Steve Taylor from Missouri Agribusiness, who gave a talk on state water quality initiatives; Rep. Jay Houghton, R-Martinsburg, who spoke about captive cervid legislation in Missouri; and Sen. Munzlinger, who led a discussion on Right to Farm and its success in Missouri.

“During our meeting this past weekend, I had the pleasure of leading a discussion on Right to Farm and its passage in the Show-Me State,” Sen. Munzlinger said. “Practically every state has watched this go from legislation to the ballot, and the leaders of those states are excited about enacting their own Right to Farm. These are the kinds of success stories I hope to see happen more often throughout our country.”