Letter of the Week: Humane Society works with farmers

Several Missouri gubernatorial candidates brought pandering to a new level at the recent Missouri Farm Bureau Convention.

The Farm Bureau opposed ballot measures — both approved by voters — to outlaw cockfighting and to crack down on puppy mills. It is now showing off other extreme positions.

Neither the voters nor mainstream candidates should go for it.

The Humane Society of the United States proudly stands against cockfighting and puppy mills. We also stand against extreme confinement of animals on factory farms.

That’s good common sense, and corporate America agrees.

The Humane Society is working with Missouri’s family farmers, bringing them financial opportunity through humane, sustainable agriculture and connecting them with the growing cage-free market in California and around the country.

While some of Missouri’s politicians may be kowtowing to powerful lobbyists at the expense of Missouri’s farmers and rural businesses, we see a way forward that not only benefits these Missourians, but that is the responsible option for people, the environment and animals.

Amanda Good, 36, of Jefferson City, is the Missouri state director of the Humane Society of the United States. She is a native of Sweet Springs, Mo. She is married to Kevin Stamps and has three rescue dogs.

This story was originally published December 27, 2015 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Letter of the Week: Humane Society works with farmers."