Blunt's office today confirmed what has been rumored around Jefferson City for a while.  Katie Smith is resigning as head of the Department of Agriculture [1].  Her quick departure date (July 7) is sure to fuel the competing rumors that 1) Katie was in trouble for refusing to participate in the Hulshof campaign in the face of growing pressure from Blunt operatives and 2) Katie threatened to resign many times over the problems associated with the Blunt ethanol mandate (many in the ag community, including GOP Rep. Mike Dethrow, are upset that the Governor sided with the corn growers at the expense of the rest of the agriculture community.  Smith has apparently been under tremendous pressure from both sides of the fight and has grown weary of a lack of responsiveness from the Governor's office).