By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves made a surprise visit to the KFEQ studios for an appearance on the Hotline with host Barry Birr to commemorate the radio station’s 100th anniversary.
Graves earlier read into the Congressional record a short piece about KFEQ’s history, praising its service to the community over its 100 years on the air.
“It’s good to be here today for the 100th anniversary and for the fact that KFEQ’s been around so long and a part of the community,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And, really, it’s broader than that, because it’s all the counties out there that you have listeners in and folks paying attention. KFEQ does a great service and I appreciate that.”
Graves says KFEQ’s anniversary prompted him to reflect on the history of St. Joseph over the past 100 years, especially its tie to agriculture, and how much things have changed.
“When I first started farming and was raising hogs and I remember hauling hogs down (to the St. Joseph Stockyards), and you know the Stockyards were immense down there, and then of course the Exchange Building that was there,” Graves recollected. “And then you go down there today and we obviously have the packing houses down there, but the Stockyards themselves, it’s gone and, of course, we all know what happened with the Exchange Building and all that’s left is the arch.”
Graves says KFEQ’s history reflects St. Joseph’s history.
“St. Joseph has changed a lot in a hundred years and the radio station has been there for the entire time and it’s part of the foundation of the community.”
Graves presented KFEQ officials a commemorative copy of the speech he gave on the floor of the United States House of Representatives.