SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) today issued a personal invitation to all members of the Illinois General Assembly to come visit the Farm Progress Show on August 28 in an effort to promote Illinois’ number one jobs sector: agriculture.
The Illinois Farm Bureau is already hosting a half-day training session and Sen. Rose is urging his colleagues to attend. Additionally, Rose has arranged for the legislators to tour ADM’s commodities trading floor where some 450 people are employed and trading occurs worldwide in real time.
“People sometimes forget that over 20% of Illinois’ economy is tied to agriculture – making it the single largest jobs creator in our state. The Farm Progress Show is an excellent way for me to help promote agriculture while educating my colleagues, particularly our friends from north of I-80, about the benefits to Illinois from regulatory policies that foster and encourage growth in agribusiness,” said Rose.
Moreover, Rose noted that as a proud “downstater,” next week’s show is a great opportunity to showcase our area and all the wonderful things we have to offer. “I truly hope that my fellow legislators from up north will take me up on this invitation. It is important that no matter what part of the state we come from, that we all understand how important agriculture is to our economy and support policies that enhance job growth in this sector,” Rose concluded.
A number of central Illinois and Chicago-area legislators have already confirmed for various activities that day and the Senator’s invitation is meant to build support for agriculture in the General Assembly.