BY TAMMIE SLOUP
Don Temple said a broad knowledge of what’s happening in the nation and world on pressing ag issues such as trade, renewable fuels and the farm bill helps him as an Illinois Farm Bureau Resolutions Committee member.
The Whiteside County Farm Bureau president was part of a subset of committee members who spent a day and a half in Washington, D.C. June 23-24 hearing directly from those working on and advocating for policy impacting Illinois farmers. Different than a Leaders to Washington visit, the inaugural trip wasn’t centered around lobbying, but aimed to help the committee members forge connections and learn about issues emerging in the federal landscape. Members also had opportunities to advocate on IFB policies.
“We met with industry folks and other interest groups, which brought the educational piece to the trip. We had meetings with legislators, where the members got to advocate for policies directly from the book but also heard from legislators the value of hearing from farmers and the value of our grassroots policies,” said Allie Speer, IFB assistant director of policy development and advocacy.
Eight Resolutions Committee members took part in the trip, which featured a presentation from CropLife America and meetings with the White House Office of Public Liaison and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, as well as a stop at the Canadian Embassy and Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), and a briefing from House Agriculture Committee staff. The group also met with U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Matteson, who discussed how she balances her urban, suburban and rural districts; House Ag Committee member Eric Sorensen, D-Moline; and staff members with U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, and Tammy Duckworth, D-Hoffman Estates, and U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Schaumburg, who is the ranking member on the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party.
“It should give us some insight as the Resolutions Committee (considers policy proposals),” Temple said of the discussions. “When we are looking at policy, we should look at the bigger picture ... We have to understand there might be give and take on different topics.”
IFB Young Leader Committee Vice Chair Carolyn Brummel, who farms with her parents and brother growing corn, soybeans, hay and pumpkins near Elgin, said the different perspectives coming directly from the industry reps and legislators and their staff was refreshing.
Connecting with her fellow committee members also was a bonus.
“It’s good to get to know more members on the committee, and it’s good to just have more education on different topics. I mean, I grow corn for ethanol, but I don’t have a super deep technical education on it, so being at RFA today, they went deeper on some of that stuff, like E15,” Brummel told FarmWeek as the group gathered outside Capitol Hill on the last day.
IFB’s Resolutions Committee is charged with looking over and working through all the policy submittals that come from the counties before advancing them to the full delegate body, Speer explained. Committee members are also encouraged to work directly with and encourage their counties to source policy to work through the policy development process.
IFB Vice President and Resolutions Committee Chair Evan Hultine noted IFB’s grassroots policy making is truly unique.
“There’s a real admiration for our grassroots policy process, how it really makes our organization stand out from others, because the policy work we do really does begin with the members,” Hultine said.
IFB Director of National Legislation Ryan Whitehouse said the organization’s policy book guides all his work in Washington, D.C. And trips like these better prepare members to analyze policy submittals, as the Resolutions Committee will do during their meeting July 21-22.
“This matters. It matters that the membership is engaged. It matters that our county leaders are willing to come out to Washington, D.C. to learn about what’s going on out here, to learn about things that are being proposed and willing to go back to their counties and have these conversations. The policy book matters because it’s what drives this organization in Washington, D.C. It’s what drives me and my job,” Whitehouse said. “When I walk into Senator Durbin’s office or Congressman LaHood’s office, or the House Ag Committee, it tells me what my message is and what I’m there to fight for for the Illinois farmer.”
Both Speer and Hultine said they’re excited to build on the trip in years to come.
“I was really excited to see this come to fruition, and really happy with how it played out,” Hultine said. “When I first got elected vice president and started working with Allie on the resolutions work, one of the things we wanted to do is spread excitement, engagement and education around our policy process. And I think this program really did that.”