Name: Hollie Elliott
In Town: Hollie is a field representative for Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond. She said her job description is “all of the above.” Hollie does outreach for the Senator. Whether she is listening to water quality issues or attending chamber lunches, her job is to get a feel for the pulse of the 24 counties in Southwest Missouri that her office covers. “The Senator is a firm believer in grassroots and he always says his best ideas come from Missouri, not Washington. While Senator Bond is back in Missouri almost every weekend, he recognizes that he does not have enough time to personally meet with all the Missourians with questions about the federal government, that’s exactly why staffers like myself hold these meetings in counties across Missouri. I also help plan events and serve as staff for when the Senator has an event in the counties we cover.”
In the Country: Hollie said she has always loved horses. She rides most weekends at her fiancée’s farm. She helps to work their cattle with horses as well, which is one of her favorite things to do. “Those horses just have it in their blood to work those cows. It’s a thrill. Most of the time you just need to hold on. They know what you want to do.” In college she rode for Missouri State’s Equestrian team for four years, competing in horsemanship. She also has competed in horsemanship and competitive cutting competitions for many years.
Family: Fiancée, Travis Elliott; Parents, Anson and Betty Elliott.
Why have you chosen to stay involved with agriculture?
“Because we need to have young people continue to be involved in agriculture. Only 2 percent of the population is involved in production agriculture directly, so it’s important to be agriculture messengers and remind everyone the importance of farmers and what they do for us.”
How does your experience in ag compliment your job now?
“I’m privileged to get to talk to farmers and producers, and learn what’s going on in the ag community, and then bring that information back to the Senator. Southwest Missouri is a diverse agriculture region, so my ag knowledge helps relay to the Senator good information he can use in drafting policy and legislation that affects agriculture.”
By OFN Staff
