Throughout his years at IFB, Clemmons touched on several issues in Springfield. In 1977, he was a member of the team that supported and passed the Illinois Farmland Assessment Act. The legislation allowed agricultural land in Illinois to be taxed on its productivity and soil type instead of its price. Clemmons also played a role in the creation of the Illinois Corn Marketing Act, which created the Illinois Corn Checkoff Program.
“The program really generated opportunity and profit for Illinois farmers and Midwestern farmers,” said Clemmons. The checkoff is run by the IL Corn Marketing Board and is represented by 17 corn farmers across the state. ICMB invests in growing corn demand, educating consumers, and creating new markets for the industry. His portfolio includes work on Illinois’s original E10 tax incentive. His lobbying in the biofuels industry allowed him to represent corn farmers alongside ICGA before his employment with the organization.
“Clemmons has always been a voice for corn farmers,” said IL Corn Growers Association President Matt Rush. “From his roots with IFB paving a way for the corn checkoff program to the end of his career serving as a lobbyist for ICGA, he has positively impacted our industry.”
After his retirement from IFB, Clemmons served as 4-H Foundation Board President and the Illinois State University Alumni Association President. However, he couldn’t stay away from Illinois’s Capitol and continued his lobbying work when he joined and acquired GovPlus Consulting. In this role he continued to represent agriculture with clients such as the IL Corn Growers Association and the Illinois Renewable Fuels Association.
“Once you get into an agricultural organization, you get to see all the other agricultural organizations,” Clemmons said. As time has progressed, so did lobbying for the agriculture industry. Clemmons said Illinois is a challenging state politically for farmers. He noted his clients were often misunderstood, especially as the divide between rural and urban areas grew more prevalent.
“Representing agriculture has gotten harder over the years because of the centralized population of the state and the Chicago area,” said Clemmons. “One of the things agricultural groups have done better at is having programs to build stronger relationships with legislators not just in their rural areas, but in the suburban districts and the Chicago districts.”
Although Clemmons did not grow up on a farm, agriculture ran deep for his family with a background as Kentucky tobacco producers. He said the respect his family planted in him gave him the passion for his career.“My five siblings and I worked for farmers as kids,” said Clemmons. “My dad always wanted to farm but he could never afford to get into the industry. It was ingrained into our family.”
“We are thankful for Rich’s time with ICGA and wish him the best of luck in his retirement,” said ICGA President Matt Rush.
“You can’t find better people in the world than farmers,” said Clemmons. “They are there to produce. They are concerned about their communities. I can’t say enough good things about agriculture.”
