Mom's Originals and owner Taran Hensley received some high honors in front of hundreds of Missouri producers and agribusiness leaders during the 43rd Missouri Governor's Conference on Agriculture, hosted by Gov. Jay Nixon and the Missouri Department of Agriculture. During the awards banquet Saturday evening, Missouri's Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler recognized the company with Missouri's AgriMissouri Member of the Year honors.

Mom's Originals founder Taran Hensley accepted the AgriMissouri Member of the Year Award for her business' outstanding marketing, branding, commitment to their community and overall excellence as a role model for Missouri-based businesses Saturday evening in Kansas City.

Mom's Originals is a gourmet pretzel and treat company based in St. Louis. Hensley founded the company in 2008 in her home, and has since grown into a commercial kitchen she runs with the help of her mom, Jody. The business' signature caramel and chocolate-covered pretzel rods were featured in gift bags at the 37th Annual Daytime Emmy awards in 2010.

The Conference, which was held in Kansas City for the first time, concluded Saturday evening with a special performance by country music star Mark Chesnutt. Other special events during the three-day gathering included the Taste of AgriMissouri reception during which more than two dozen producers shared their Missouri-grown foods and beverages with attendees and the benefit auction supporting the FFA, 4-H, ALOT and AFA programs for youth and young professionals in agriculture.

For more information on the Governor's Conference on Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Agriculture, visit the Department online at http://www.mda.mo.gov.