SEDALIA (AP) - Gubernatorial candidate and current Attorney General Chris Koster picked up another endorsement from an agricultural group Thursday at the State Fair, adding to what's been an atypical showing of support from those groups for a Democratic contender in an already unusual race for Missouri governor.
The Corn Growers Association, Soybean Association and Missouri Farm Bureau have said they back Koster, who is the first Democratic statewide candidate to earn the Farm Bureau's support in its history. The Cattlemen's Association on Thursday announced it will also back Koster over his Republican rival, former Navy SEAL officer Eric Greitens.
The switch from Missouri's agricultural groups' typical support of GOP candidates in the governor's race highlights the contest between a former Republican-turned-Democrat and a former-Democrat-turned-Republican.
"Eric is still trying to figure out the difference between a herbicide and a pesticide, and I have a deep history with agriculture across the commodity platforms," Koster told the Associated Press after candidates from both parties gathered to shake hands with voters at the Governor's Ham Breakfast.
Koster served in the state Senate as a Republican before switching parties and running for attorney general. He's made supporting the agriculture industry a main point in his campaign and said his goal is to "lift up agriculture as a primary component of economic development in the state of Missouri."
Greitens is a first-time candidate. He shook hands with those in line for ham at the breakfast and mingled with the crowd of hundreds, but he didn't linger at the fair.
In an interview with the Associated Press after he left, Greitens said he'd be a "tireless fighter for agriculture."
"With the right leadership, agriculture can be a growth industry for us here in Missouri," Greitens said.
Koster stayed for hours after the breakfast to visit with agriculture groups. He accepted a red trucker hat with the Cattlemen's Association logo before the president of the group announced his endorsement.
Both Greitens and Koster wore what appeared to be candidates' go-to outfit at the fair: blue jeans and cowboy boots.