SCOTT: Farm Bureau advocates for ag on Capitol Hill

By Editor | July 23, 2024 |

By DAVID CAMPHOUSE

Photo by Tammie Sloup
Twenty-two Illinois Farm Bureau leaders recently met with members of the state congressional delegation at their Capitol Hill offices to advocate for agricultural issues, including passing a new, modernized farm bill. Scott County’s Jenny Sauer-Schmidgall was among the IFB group that visited Washington D.C.

Twenty-two Illinois Farm Bureau leaders recently met with members of the state congressional delegation at their Capitol Hill offices to advocate for agricultural issues,

Among them, Jenny Sauer-Schmidgall, Riggston, representing Pike-Scott Farm Bureau, attended IFB’s annual Leaders to Washington trip, held July 8-11 in Washington, D.C. During the trip, she spoke with Rep. Mary Miller to share first-hand accounts of how federal policies affect Illinois agriculture and businesses.

According to Pike-Scott Farm Bureau Executive Director Jenna Morrow, the process of being selected to go on the IFB trip to Washington D.C. is a competitive one, and it was important locally for Sauer-Schmidgall to be selected as an attendee.

“To go on the trip, you have to apply,” Morrow said. “It’s really great to see our region represented.”

“Jenny is very involved and has really jumped in with both feet as one of our directors. She shows a lot of potential for leadership in the organization and is effective at offering her perspective and working with state and federal legislators.”

One of the most important topics addressed on the trip to Washington D.C. was making sure that elected officials understand the importance of passing a new, modernized farm bill, which included discussing the need for an update to crop insurance and the overall farm safety net to meet the realities of today, such as commodity prices and input prices.

“A big emphasis of the trip was on making sure legislators know that we need to get a new farm bill passed,” Morrow said.

Morrow stated that passing a new farm bill is particularly important, so that farmers can anticipate any changes that may affect their farming operations.

“We really need it passed, so farmers can make plans for next season,” Morrow said. “It’s not a comfortable situation for farmers not knowing what will be in the farm bill – not knowing details like what crop protection rates will be.”

In a release provided by IFB, organization President Brian Duncan encouraged other Farm Bureau members and directors to get more involved in the legislative process and to consider taking part in IFB’s Leaders to Washington program.

“Our Leaders to Washington trip is a cornerstone program of our organization,” Duncan said. “I’d encourage anybody who hasn’t been to Washington on a farm bureau trip to get in line and make yourself available to go. It’s a great opportunity. We’re pressing home to the legislators that this is a time when farmers are particularly concerned about farm income, and whether it’s in a farm bill, or whether it’s trade or whether it’s future uses for biofuels, this is the kind of economic backdrop in which we’re pressing the case.”

Participants in IFB’s Leaders to Washington trip brought a range of backgrounds and perspectives to the table. They represented a range of organizations, including local county Farm Bureaus, state and local Young Leaders committees and the IAA Board of Directors.

Other attending members were Gary Asay, Henry County; John Bartman, McHenry; Grant Bend, DeKalb; Michael Bernhard, Kendall-Grundy; Rebecca Biernacki, Cook; Dustin Brinkman, Monroe; Robert Gerstenecker, Clinton; Alison Gibbs, Woodford; Carl Goebel, Christian; Leeson Gord, DeKalb; Scott Groennert, Washington; Adam Henkel, Lee; Blair Hoerbert, Logan; Matthew Kunken, Menard; Wayne Lintker, Washington; Mark Litteken, Clinton; Lindsey McKinzie, Edwards; Randall Milliman, Jasper; Tim Poletti, Madison; Bradley Smith, Carroll; and Mark Tuttle, DeKalb.

They also talked about sustainable aviation fuel and making sure Illinois family farms can contribute their corn crop to that effort.

“Luckily, Illinois Farm Bureau has a trusted relationship with Illinois’ Congressional delegation, but it helps us get to the finish line when farmers take days away from their farm to come out here and reiterate to their member of Congress, to their U.S. senators, that what Illinois Farm Bureau’s pushing for and fighting for is, in fact, what they really need,” said Ryan Whitehouse, IFB director of national legislation. “The farmer’s voice was heard in Washington, D.C., and I think that it will make an impact that next time there’s a committee hearing, a conference report or a vote in the Senate chamber or the House chamber, they will have our farmers’ voices will be in the back of their heads when they take that vote.”

Delegates who joined sit-down conversations included Reps. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro; Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield; Sean Casten, D-Downers Grove; Bill Foster, D-Naperville; Darin LaHood, R-Dunlap; Mary Miller, R-Oakland; Eric Sorensen, D-Moline; and Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville; and U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Hoffman Estates, and Dick Durbin, D-Springfield.

About Illinois Farm Bureau

The Illinois Farm Bureau is a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation, a national organization of farmers and ranchers. Founded in 1916, IFB is a non-profit, membership organization directed by farmers who join through their county Farm Bureau. IFB has a total membership of more than 364,452 and a farmer membership of 75,959. IFB represents three out of four Illinois farmers.

Learn more about Illinois agriculture at www.ilfb.org. Connect with Illinois Farm Bureau on Facebook: Illinois Farm Bureau | Facebook. Follow IFB on Instagram @ilfarmbureau or on X @ILFarmBureau.