Kruse honored with Taste of the South Award

A surprised Charlie Kruse of Dexter received the Taste of the South Award in Jefferson City on Wednesday

Charlie Kruse, left, and Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe at the Taste of the South Award ceremony.

Kruse is the second person honored by state Sen. Jason Bean. Taste of the South was a tradition created last year by Bean, showcasing the people and the food of the state’s 25th senatorial district. Former Missouri Rep. Mark Richardson of Poplar Bluff received the inaugural award.

Kruse said, “It’s a special, a very special honor when you’re recognized by people from your home area. I feel very blessed. This is a special honor I’m very proud of.”

It was also a surprise — Bean asked Kruse to be a part of honoring Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe.

“Jason asked me to come up and told me, I was going to be a part of making a presentation to Mike Kehoe, which I was excited to do. Mike Kehoe and I’ve been close friends for 25 years. I was really excited. Unbeknownst to me, you know what happened. The plan was to honor me. They got me pretty good. It was really a surprise, a really good surprise.”

Bean said, “The Taste of the South is my way of sharing how great Southeast Missouri is and all our communities have to offer.”

Calling it a great opportunity for local leaders to visit the state capitol and see the legislative process firsthand, Bean added, “It’s also a time for legislators from other parts of the sate to learn about our area and how important we are to the state economy.”

Bean said, “Charlie Kruse is a wonderful friend and role model. He has made a positive difference and many contributions to Missouri agriculture and our communities. We are fortunate to have him in our area.”

Kruse continued, “I’ve been very fortunate during my career to have the opportunity to work with some really outstanding people. I’ve always believed if you surround yourself with really great people, then together, you’re going to be able to do some things that really make a difference. I feel like that’s the way my life has been very blessed.”

Kruse retired from the Farm Bureau after serving as its president since 1992. He is a retired Missouri National Guard Brigadier General with 26 years of service.

“My wife, Pam, and I retired from farming,” Kruse said. “We ran our family farm for 38 years after my dad retired. We retired from active farming at the end of 2014. I’m still serving on some boards. That keeps me really active and involved and I enjoy that. Pam and I get to travel more than we used to. We both enjoy that and at this point in your life, it’s nice to be able to spend time with your family. We’ve got two great-granddaughters. We’re able to see them and our son- and daughter-in-law all the time. We feel really blessed to get to do that.”

Kruse had two appointments by two different governors and three appointments by two different presidents. He received gubernatorial appointments to the University of Missouri Board of Curators and as director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. He was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to the 19‑member President’s Council on Rural America, and President George W. Bush appointed him to the President’s Trade Advisory Council.

Kruse is a 1959 Eagle Scout and a 1963 graduate of Dexter High School. He graduated in 1967 from Arkansas State University with a degree in agronomy and earned his master of science in agronomy in 1973 from Missouri University. As a distinguished graduate from Mizzou, Missouri Gov. Kit Bond appointed him to the University of Missouri Board of Curators in 1983.

Bean represents District 25, which includes Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Pemiscot, Ripley, Stoddard, and Wayne counties.