By Ray McCarty, president/CEO of Associated Industries of Missouri
May 3, 2024 - The annual Buy Missouri Day, hosted by Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe, was a big success again this year. The event was held on Wednesday, May 1, in the rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol building.
"It was great to once again host Buy Missouri Day at the Capitol," said Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe. "I am proud to see how much this event has grown and evolved over the last six years. This year we were joined by nearly 40 members from across the state who manufacture a wide variety of quality products here in Missouri. We were glad to share more about these businesses and their products with our state's elected officials and capitol visitors."
Associated Industries of Missouri helped kick off the Buy Missouri program in 2017. I accompanied then-Lt. Governor and now Governor Mike Parson on a press tour around Missouri to discuss the purpose of the program: to promote Missouri-made products.
"Our hope is that Missourians will support Missouri-made products when they know which products are actually made in Missouri," I said at the time. "Buying products made and manufactured in Missouri supports our local businesses, local economies and the entire State of Missouri."
Some of the businesses participating in the event this year included:
Bear Paw Creek, LLC – South Greenfield, MO
Blacksmith Artisanal Spirits, LLC – Lohman, MO
ChefMel Sauces, Inc. – Kirkwood, MO
Daniel's Bar-B-Q Sauces, LLC – Lee’s Summit, MO
Executive Wood Products – Sullivan, MO
H20 Technologies – Potosi, MO
Haviland Corporation – Linn, MO
Herbaria, LLC – St. Louis, MO
Honeysuckle Acres – Hickory Hill, MO
IncentiLock LLC – Chesterfield, MO
Jared's Jams – Edina, MO
JB's Gourmet Spice Blends – Ozark, MO
Karviva Beverages – St. Louis, MO
Kays Engineering, Inc. – Marshall, MO
LAG Industries LLC – La Monte, MO
Largeprinting.com – Kansas City, MO
Midwest Paradise – Montgomery City, MO
Missouri Life Magazine – Boonville, MO
Missouri Ridge Distillery & Brewery LLC – Branson, MO
Naked Chicks Pasture – Norwood, MO
Noble Concrete & Precast – Lamar, MO
Ortmann Woodcraft – Patton, MO
Raw Roots Turmeric, LLC – Columbia, MO
Red Ox Distillery LLC – Foristell, MO
Robller Vineyard Inc. – New Haven, MO
Rockwood Charcoal – Eureka, MO
Show Me HH Farms LLC – Hannibal, MO
Silvey's Soap – California, MO
Smokin Brothers Inc. – Cape Girardeau, MO
The Trendy Traveler – Troy, MO
Third Street Sportswear – Ozark, MO
Veteran Equipment & Trade Co., LLC – Wright City, MO
Wegmann Companies – High Ridge, MO
Weston Bend Candle Co. – Weston, MO
Wood Hat Spirits – New Florence, MO
In addition to these Buy Missouri program members, this year the event was also attended by a number of retail partners who walked around to visit and find new products for their retail locations.
Also attending the event were industry partners including Associated Industries of Missouri, NFIB, the Missouri Grocers Association; state agencies including the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Grown Program, the Missouri Office of Administration; and many of our state’s elected officials – representatives, senators and statewide office holders.
The Buy Missouri Program currently has over 620 members and more than 50 retail partners. Buy Missouri program members can be found in 100 counties across the state, employing more than 17,000 Missourians.
For more information on the program, including ways to become a "Buy Missouri" member, please visit https://buymissouri.net/
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