JEFFERSON CITY -- April is soybean month in Missouri, and Gov. Mike Parson celebrated with free soy lattes and an official proclamation at Yanis Coffee Zone.
Joined by Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn and leaders from the Missouri Soybean Association, Parson stopped by Yanis Coffee Zone on Monday morning to present a proclamation making April 2022 soybean month.
Parson said the proclamation and morning stop at the coffee shop help showcase Missouri products and how they impact local businesses and communities.
"When the local businesses are promoting local products, it's a win-win for everybody in Missouri," he said.
Yanis Coffee Zone served free soy lattes Monday as part of the celebration.
Soybeans are the primary cash commodity and agricultural export grown in Missouri. The state produces the sixth most in the nation with more than 290 million bushels a year, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Chinn said she was excited to showcase how Missouri agriculture products are used in consumer products.
"Normally, when we're with the soybean growers, we're promoting what our farmers and ranchers do every day out in their field, so this is a unique opportunity for us," she said.
Kehoe said Buy Missouri, the state's program for supporting Missouri businesses selling Missouri-made products, has some partnerships with soybean growers around the state.
"We're super proud to be a part of anything that promotes Missouri products, Missouri grown, Missouri agriculture," he said.
Parson thanked the Missouri Soybean Association for representing farmers and growers around the state and Yanis Coffee Zone for opening its doors.
"To have this and do what we're doing today to appreciate soy foods and soy milk and the products of that, it couldn't be done at a better place," he said.
Parson has been going to Yanis Coffee Zone since his time in the Missouri House and Senate, he said, and the service keeps him coming back.
"I came in here the day that the owner got his citizenship," he said. "And I'll never forget, coming in that day, what his thoughts were and how proud he was to get his citizenship to the United States.
"I remember him saying he was just like us -- when in reality he was just like us before but it was a big deal," he said. "Ever since then, I've come in and tried to be loyal because I think he's doing a lot of good things for being part of this."
From Left to Right: Coffee Zone owner Taisir Yanis, Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn, Gov. Mike Parson, Missouri Soybean Association chief operating officer Casey Wasser and Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe talked about the importance of soybeans to Missouri's economy. Soybeans are the top cash crop grown in Missouri.