The Importance of Contacting Legislators

Lyndi Allen
June 27, 2025

Interview with Eric Croft, one of our most active participants in IL Corn's Call to Actions

Eric Croft

What motivates you to take action when you receive a CTA?

When I receive a Call to Action, I respond and follow the steps to contact legislators because I know that it is effective.  Over the years, I have called & emailed congressmen and gone to Springfield to support legislation.  Speaking with the administrative assistant of a past Representative, she made it clear that it is important to contact them, because they keep tallies of the number of contacts for or against a bill. 


How easy or difficult is it to engage when you get a CTA?

Calls to Action make it very easy to contact your legislators and take very little time to complete. 

Eric Croft, Illinois farmer

Why do you think it’s important for farmers like you to speak up on policy issues?

It is important for us to speak up on policy issues because laws affect so much of agriculture, like profitability, longevity and the ability to keep a farm in the family for future generations.


How has participating in advocacy changed your view of agriculture beyond your farm?

Participating in advocacy has made me realize that in politics, sometimes it can take several years to get a particular piece of legislation passed. But, it is necessary to continue to contact our legislators through methods like Calls to Action. If we all work together, we can accomplish great things. 


Weekly News
By Lyndi Allen August 28, 2026
News from IL Corn for week ending 8/28/26
Tall green corn plants under a partly cloudy blue sky
By Lyndi Allen August 27, 2026
New tariffs on Canadian goods took effect August 22, a critical market for U.S. agriculture. For Illinois farmers, the concern is what these tariffs could mean for demand.
Golden field at sunset with distant trees and a low farmhouse on the horizon
By Lyndi Allen August 27, 2026
A proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would create the first true transcontinental Class I railroad in the United States, what does it mean for farmers
By Tara Desmond August 27, 2026
Get to know volunteer Southern Illinois farmer Matt Raben - New IL Corn Marketing Board Chair
Rachel Curry on IL Corn TV
By Tara Desmond August 27, 2026
Behind the Numbers: What's Really Driving Nutrient Loss in Illinois
Ryan LeGrange - CEO of USGBC
By Tara Desmond August 27, 2026
Record U.S. corn and ethanol exports highlight growing global demand, with Canada and Mexico playing key roles in strong markets for farmers.
Show More