There are many roads that lead to becoming an elected official. As the son of a preacher/auto mechanic and a nurse, Jason Smith’s self-described blue-collar background found him working a series of jobs, graduating early and pursuing a career as a lawyer. After that it wasn’t long before he found himself a Missouri state representative at the very young age of 25.

Smith speaks with journalist Lindsey Christ about his upbringing and tells some moving stories about why his work in politics means so much to him. He also shares how he convinced a loan officer to give him the money to buy the family farm, as well as his rather unique approach to naming his donkeys.