October 05, 2024

‘A brighter future for farmers’: Messages delivered at Agricultural Legislative Day

By Tom Doran

State Sen. Steve McClure (left) met with Illinois Soybean Association representatives at the Illinois Agricultural Legislative Day March 3. Visiting with McClure are Mike Levin (from right), ISA public policy and regulatory affairs director; Jim Martin, ISA director; John Lumpe, ISA CEO; Scott Gaffner, ISA director; Josh Griffin, ISA Soy Ambassador; and Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare, ISA director. (AgriNews photo)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Nearly 50 farm commodity organizations and other diverse agriculture interest groups joined over 1,000 Illinois FFA members to meet with state lawmakers at the 50th annual Agricultural Legislative Day March 3.

During the gathering, legislators were reminded about the multiple ways that agricultural affects their lives, the lives of their constituents and the impact their choice make on the world of agriculture.

In addition, FFA members delivered 275 baskets filled with Illinois-produced agricultural products and box lunches.

AgriNews tagged along with Illinois Soybean Association representatives as they met with legislators to discuss various issues and concerns.

It marked the first time two of the ISA representatives were able to experience Illinois Agricultural Legislative Day.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to visit with state representatives and let them know that we’re concerned about some of the issues that we’re facing and hoping that they can move us forward and help continue toward a brighter future for farmers,” said Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare of Nebo, ISA district director and Marketing Committee chairwoman.

She said another highlight of her first Legislative Day was the opening program at the Illinois State Library where Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, members of the General Assembly’s agriculture committees, Illinois FFA President Gage Miller, Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert Jr. and Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Kelsi Kessler touted the importance of agriculture and how it benefits the state in a myriad of ways.

“I think it provides a very good overview of the agriculture climate in the state. It’s good to hear from some of our state leaders, as well as our FFA and the Illinois County Fair Queen, to get their perspective on where agriculture is going,” Simpson-Dolbeare said.

“It’s nice to see the optimism about agriculture and the farming year coming up. Of course, I think farmers are eternal optimists, so we always hope for a better year than what we had the year before.”

Josh Griffin of Centralia and originally from Edgar County where his family currently farms also experienced his first Legislative Day in Springfield. The ISA Soy Ambassador had a similar experience with ISA when they visited lawmakers in Washington.

“The representatives and senators we’re going to meet with don’t have a lot of in-depth knowledge about agriculture, so I’m looking forward to picking their brain and kind of educating them on what we do on a day-to-day basis and telling them what our hot topics are in our industry,” Griffin said.

Educate, Promote

ISA directors Jim Martin, Pontiac, and Scott Gaffner, Greenville, have attended several Ag Legislative Days, as well as visits with legislators in Washington.

“It’s really an impressive day to get to visit with some of our legislators and see the all of the FFA kids walking around and learning the way the legislative process works,” said Martin, who also serves as ISA treasurer.

“As an Illinois Soybean Association director, it’s a great opportunity to get out and advocate for our 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois. We can talk about our own farming operations and talk about things we’re promoting like higher blends of biodiesel made from soybean oil and educate them about how we’re advocating for the farmer and educating consumers about what we do.”

“I think this is a great opportunity for us to be able to educate, promote the great things that we as farmers are doing and make our legislators aware of the things that are concerning to us,” said Gaffner, who is also ISA assistant secretary-treasurer.

“Everybody has a story and agriculture has such a rich heritage. We want to continue to promote that, to continue to push that forward and just to show where we’ve come from and to what we’re doing now to be conservationists and be good stewards of our land. This is just a great opportunity to promote that and tell them about the things that are important to us with trade and with biodiesel, things that help promote soybeans.”