IL Corn Connects with Farmer Members and Elected Officials at Farm Progress Show 21

Irshad MD
September 3, 2021

Farm Progress Show 2021 in Decatur, IL was a great time for the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) to connect with farmer members and elected officials, says Randy DeSutter, President.

 

“So many of our members come through our tent here at Farm Progress Show. This is our opportunity to connect with them and help them understand how we’re working on their behalf,” he said.

 

The association saw Governor J.B. Pritzker, Congressman Rodney Davis, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, Congressman Darin LaHood, and other local officials walk through the tent at the Decatur show site over the three days.

The association also celebrated two former farmer leaders receiving the Prairie Farmer Master Farmer designation on the final day of the show.

 

Farmers and ag leaders that visited the tent had the opportunity to connect with ICGA via their text alert advocacy system, and to connect with their legislators on three key issues: retaining stepped up basis, passing the infrastructure bill, and co-sponsoring the Next Generation Fuels Act.

 

A U.S. House of Representatives Biofuels Caucus meeting was also held during the show, offering farmers an opportunity to make comments on current biofuels policy needs.

 

“This has been a very successful show for us,” said DeSutter. “We love the opportunity to see our members and talk with them. For the members that weren’t able to join us in Decatur, we really encourage them to call their board member or check in on our website to stay up-to-date on the most important Illinois corn farmer news and issues.”

 

Check in with us on all of the most important issues we discussed on Brownfield TV below!

Mexican CANAMI (National Chamber of Industrialized Corn) members at Illinois farm
By Tara Desmond • October 15, 2026
IL Corn & USGBC hosted Mexican masa millers on southern Illinois farms and river terminals, strengthening ties with our top corn customer.
holding a cover crop
By IDOA & Tara Desmond • October 15, 2026
Pre-enrollment opens Nov. 30 for IDOA’s Fall Covers for Spring Savings program, worth up to $5/acre off 2027 crop insurance premiums.
Josh Linville and Collin Watters
By Tara Desmond • October 15, 2026
What’s really driving your fertilizer bill? StoneX’s Josh Linville breaks down global supply, competition, and the long-term fix on IL Corn TV.
thumbnail of Megan and Jared
By Tara Desmond, Megan Dwyer and Brownfield Ag • October 15, 2026
Illinois Corn and U of I built lease addenda to help farmers and landowners build cover crops, soil health and nutrient goals into rental agreements.
headshot of Jenny Webb IFCA president
By Tara Desmond • October 15, 2026
Jenny Webb has spent her career in Illinois agriculture. Now she’s about three months into a new job as president of the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association (IFCA), the group that represents the ag retailers, applicators and suppliers who get fertilizer and crop protection products to your farm when you need them. Webb came to IFCA from Illinois Farm Bureau. She’s new to the fertilizer and chemical side of the business, but not to farmers or to the policy and regulatory issues that affect them. IL Corn sat down with her to talk about what she’s learned so far, the issues facing Illinois ag retailers, and why the work happening behind the scenes deserves more credit than it gets.
Andrew Jolly
By Lyndi Allen • October 15, 2026
A sixth-generation farmer from Chenoa, IL, Andrew Jolly is carrying on his family’s farming legacy while learning how to make his voice heard in agricultural policy as a 2026 GROW participant.
Show More