BOONE COUNTY PASSES PRO-AGRICULTURE RESOLUTION
BOONE COUNTY PASSES PRO-AGRICULTURE RESOLUTION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 20, 2023
CONTACT:
Ann Marie Cain, FBCM
Manager, Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau
815-962-0654
wbfbmanager@live.com
Belvidere, IL. — Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau leaders are excited to call the Boone County Board an “Ally in Agriculture” after the board’s adoption of a Pro-Agriculture Resolution, demonstrating local elected officials’ support for farmers.
“Our farming community would like to thank members of the Boone County Board for showing their support by adopting this resolution,” said John Mitchell, Winnebago-Boone FB President. “Agriculture is a major economic driver in Boone County and this resolution shows our elected officials have our backs when making important decisions affecting our farms and livelihoods.”
Illinois is home to more than 71,000 farms, 96% of which are family-owned and a third of which include livestock. Boone County accounts for 457 of those farms. Farmland is a finite resource that is vital to agriculture, food production, and the economic well-being of Boone County. Agriculture also supports 1,238 jobs which accounts for an estimated 5 percent of total jobs in the county.
Boone County Board members adopted the resolution on March 16, 2023, following conversations with local farm leaders.
“Boone County is grateful to be valued as an “Ally in Agriculture”. As green energy continues to grow, Boone County remains committed to preserving and promoting the development of agriculture farmland. We will continue to support our local farmers for they are the backbone of our great community,” said, Boone County Chairman Rodney Riley.
Local elected officials across the state are showing their support of their agricultural communities through the adoption of Pro-Agriculture Resolutions. County board members work with their local Farm Bureau to better understand the role agriculture plays in their local economy, such as providing jobs and generating property tax revenue, which is used to fund services for all citizens. The result is a strong working relationship between county officials and the agriculture community.
“Agriculture is the state’s largest industry, and passage of these Pro-Agriculture Resolutions shows that our elected officials understand that agriculture goes far beyond providing food and fuel,” said Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert Jr. “When county boards pass these resolutions, they are showing their commitment to work with farm leaders so they can confidently be champions of agriculture.”
Cutline: Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau President John Mitchell presents the pro-agriculture designation to Boone County Board Chairman Rodney Riley on Thursday, March 16, 2023, following the passage of the pro-agriculture resolution.
Front (L to R) Ann Marie Cain, FBCM, Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau Manger; Tom Walberg, Boone County District 2 Director; John Mitchell, Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau President; Rodney Riley, Boone County Board Chairman; Marion Thornberry, Boone County District 3 Director
Back row (L to R): Jeremy Franseen, Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau Director; Brian Schneider, Boone County District 1 Director; Brent Mueller, Boone County District 1 Director; Alisa Patterson, Boone County District 2 Director; and Karl Johnson, Boone County District 2 Director