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The Missouri Equine Council, Inc was chartered as a Missouri not-for-profit corporation September 22, 1989. The need for this organization was realized in 1986 when a long-time Missouri horse breeder was accused by the Missouri Department of Revenue of failure to pay taxes due on the sale of breeding stock, and failure to pay sales tax on other livestock expenses such as hay and tractors. When questioned, the Missouri Department of Revenue revealed that it regarded horses not as livestock but as pets. Through research, the breeder discovered that at least fourteen Missouri statutes defined horses as livestock, thus putting them in the same category as cattle and other livestock. The Department of Revenue then disclosed that it had summarily passed a rule ignoring the state statutes and declaring horses as non-livestock in 1981. Furthermore, under the cloak of protecting confidentiality, the revenue department refused to divulge how many other horse breeders and others they had pursued since 1981 under this rule.
Eventually, the accused horse breeder appealed to the media for assistance in finding out if others connected to the horse industry had been pursued by the state revenue department as well. The media made a laudable effort. Not only did horse breeders come forward, but so did feed businesses selling to the horse industry, and a number of state legislators many of whom owned horses, cattle and farms and were unaware of the "rule". Their courage was remarkable.
Bill Kimmons, a southwest Missouri real estate broker and equine industry lobbyist, offered substantial assistance in initiating the effort to confront the Missouri Department of Revenue in regard to its "rule" which ignored Missouri's state statutes defining horses as livestock. The Department of Revenue's defense was instructive: they were ill informed about the equine industry. They did not know that horses are used for far more tax-generating purposes than are all other livestock e.g. recreation (ticket sales), meat, hides, tack, other equipment, and medicinals. Moreover, in denying that horses were livestock, they had also overlooked the use of horses in farm work, and as an indispensable source of farm soil fertilizer.
In time, after considerable legislative diligence, and some years of effort and expense on the part of a number of private individuals, the Missouri legislature officially re-clarified the state's statutes so that once again horses were ensured of their livestock status. Not only did horse owners and farmers express great relief, but so did feed dealers and others serving the equine industry in contested areas.
MISSOURI EQUINE COUNCIL, INC: Founding history
In the interest of avoiding another similar debacle in the future, several Missouri state legislators, including Senator John Russell, requested that the equine industry unite to provide a single voice on behalf of its interests. Specifically, they suggested an industry-wide organization with a communication tool, which would help all interested parties including legislators and relevant government bodies to stay connected with, and informed about Missouri's equine industry. They cited the equine industry's "invisibility": an obviously large industry important to Missouri's economy, yet poorly understood by the public, including policy-making government agencies. At that time agriculture was the state's premier industry with tourism following as a close second. Both of these entities were connected with the equine industry. The legislators urged the industry to unite to educate and inform the general public and the equine industry as well.
After considerable discussion and planning, he Missouri Equine Council, Inc. was founded in 1989 to meet these goals. By-laws were finalized by the MEC Board of Directors on July 26, 1989 and adopted September 17, 1989. MEC was officially chartered by the State of Missouri as a not-for-profit corporation on September 22, 1989. The first Officers were elected November 8, 1989. MEC's Founding Board consisted of Wayne P Stevens, Sullivan, President, Mary-Charlotte Shealy, Fair Grove, Vice-President, Roger D. Ferguson, Brookline, Secretary/Treasurer, Michael Klem, Jr., Kirksville, C.C. Nycum, Edwards and Sarah Runyan, Parkville.
By March 1990, the MEC Board had added to its members: Maurice (Bud) L. Hirsch, Jr., Chesterfield, Dr. Wayne Loch, Columbia and Joyce Newcomb, Eugene. The early years of the Missouri Equine Council were a beehive of activity and productivity thanks to the generous talents of many people from around the state. Wayne Stevens a retired Coast Guard officer was an effective net worker, who brought in many equine people primarily from eastern and central Missouri. Roger Ferguson had numerous industry contacts, both among individuals and businesses in southwestern Missouri. Membership solicitation began in 1989 with the mailing of a MEC survey to determine who in the equine industry would be interested in supporting MEC. The MEC Board also made plans for its first industry-wide public event, a Horse Fair. By June 1990, MEC welcomed its 100th member. Corporate sponsors were awarded an appreciation plaque and membership benefits. In 1990, MEC also joined the American Horse Council as the Missouri state representative.
On January 26, 1991, MEC's BOD approved the following statement, adopted at the 1st Annual Meeting:
"Animal welfare is concerned with the protection and well being of animals in their use which includes proper housing, management, disease prevention and treatment, responsible care, humane handling, and when necessary, humane euthanasia.
The MEC adopts the promotion of animal welfare as its official policy and supports the responsible and humane use of animals, as determined by experienced, knowledgeable and concerned persons, for human purposes such as companionship, recreation, food, fiber, and research conducted for the benefit of both humans and animals. Further, the MEC supports the identification and the correction and/or elimination of practices that are contrary to this policy."
MEC also received Internal Revenue Service 501(c)(6) tax-exempt status. The first MEC Registered Office was in Brookline, Missouri; in 1996 it was moved to Fair Grove at Brindabella Farms. The first MEC Administrator (1996) was Pat Smith, Columbia. Ellen Valagene, Republic, who held the position for several years, succeeded her in 1997. Caroline Todd, Fulton, who was MEC's Executive Administrator for five years, followed her. Jennifer Kruse, Tipton, took over the Executive Administrators position in 2008.
MEC is especially grateful to founding member, Mary-Charlotte Shealy, for recording the beginnings of the Missouri Equine Council, Inc.
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