Uniting for Agriculture: IL Corn Leaders Champion Farmers’ Voices at National Conventions

Bipartisan collaboration is fundamental to IL Corn’s efforts to represent farmers in Springfield and Washington, D.C. 

IL Corn leaders were active this summer at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in July and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in August. The two events marked a whirlwind of changes impacting America’s future. Farmer members met with key leaders on the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, state elected officials and attended agricultural events. 

“This year marks the first time ICGA was present at both key political events, the RNC and DNC,” ICGA Vice President Garrett Hawkins said. “Conversations in Milwaukee and Chicago were robust and allowed us to reiterate, at the highest level, the priorities of our farmer members and their contribution to the United States economy.” 

Events kicked off in July at a farm outside Milwaukee for the RNC’s “Great American Farm Fair”. ICGA farmer leaders and staff spoke with House Agriculture Committee members, including Chairman Glenn Thompson on the importance of passing a comprehensive farm bill. 

“It was motivating to be in a room of individuals working towards improving the policies that impact our industry,” Jacksonville farmer and ICGA member Marty Marr said. 

In August, IL Corn shared the important role of waterway infrastructure during a boat tour on the Chicago River with state and federal lawmakers. The event gathered over 30 elected officials and connected the inner city and downstate Illinois. 

IL Corn was also present alongside the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) at the DNC’s agriculture leadership reception. NCGA President Harold Wolle introduced Illinois House Agriculture Committee member Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) who spoke following Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. 

“As an agricultural organization in the DNC’s host state, the waterways tour and the agriculture leaders event provided us an opportunity to share the struggles farmers are facing in light of falling prices, with our elected officials,” Jeff Scates, a farmer from Shawneetown who attend the event said. “We discussed corn’s economic benefits to the state’s economy and ethanol’s ability to lower carbon emissions today.”

“It’s our job as an association to ensure our members are relevant in political conversations,” Scates said. “Our conversations at the RNC and DNC were fruitful and will prove to make an impact in years to come.”