New Missouri Agriculture Leader Appointed
(AP) - Gov. Jay Nixon has chosen a fourth-generation northwest Missouri farmer to head the state Department of Agriculture.
Nixon announced the appointment of Richard Fordyce (FOR'-deyes) at a news conference Thursday in Rushville.
Fordyce grows soybeans and corn and raises beef cattle in Bethany. He has been chairman of Missouri's Soil and Water Districts Commission since 2008 and is a former president of the Harrison County Farm Bureau.
Fordyce will succeed former Agriculture Director Jon Hagler, whom Nixon abruptly replaced in October. Hagler's departure came a day after an agency employee distributed a letter saying she was resigning because of what she called a hostile work environment.
Hagler has said the timing was coincidental and denied leading the agency with hostility or intimidation
Fordyce's appointment requires confirmation by the state Senate.
© Associated Press
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Walnut Township recall coming; Friday mtg erupts in arrest
Four arrested for illegal activity on Kickapoo Reservation
Two search warrants, two Horton homes, two arrests
Sabetha woman arrested in business burglary
Effingham teen facing child sex crimes charges
Severe storms move through NE KS
Atchison apt fire claim's toddler's life, injures others
Document forgery alleged in ATCO's Walnut Township
Two Brown Co officers honored for their bravery
Whiting woman pleads to theft of fire dept. funds
Flags across KS to fly half-staff Sunday
Severe storms reported Tuesday in NE KS
Two men arrested in Jackson Co for distribute of meth
Atchison man nabbed for neighbor's 4 wheeler theft
Winning lottery ticket sold in Falls City about to expire
Meriden man bound over on rape charge
Tornado damage surveyed in NE KS
LATEST STORIES
Planned outage for Brown-Atchison Electric Tuesday
KS Courts: those affected by past cyber attack being contacted
Atchison apt fire claim's toddler's life, injures others
Falls City Education Assn awards nearly $39K in scholarships
Richardson Co Commission approves Sheriff's Dept items
Latest Brown, Doniphan Co filings
Council approves Aquatic Center hirings
Motorcyclist injured in Holt Co MO crash