Ag Commissioner candidate stumps in Jacksboro

Palo Pinto County rancher and retired US Air Force Col. Kim Olson spoke to about 30 voters at Jacksboro City Hall Saturday.

Olson outlined her reasons for running for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture.

She began her stump by speaking to how agriculture touches everyone’s lives every day. From free or reduced school lunches, Meals On Wheels, gas pump inspection to food safety, ag is pervasive.

“How many think it’s a Texas value, not a right or left value, but a Texas value that a child in our state gets a decent meal every day?” she asked. “The Department of Ag does free and reduced lunch, the pass through for the USDA making sure we have nutritious meals.”

She said strong children are needed to get a good education to power the economy with a good workforce to draw from.

The other end of the spectrum, Olson said, looks at Meals On Wheels. 

“USDA passes through money and the ag department matches grants for that,” Olson said. “How many think it’s a Texas value that seniors or people that are handicapped ought to have a decent meal once a day?

“This is 2017, we ought to feed our old and our young.”

She said she was most passionate about the ag department’s role in rural development.

To read the complete article, see the Aug. 18 edition of the Herald-Gazette.