Prairie State Wire

Illinois State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) recently took to social media to discuss his participation in the 50th anniversary celebration of the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA).

In an Aug. 11 Facebook post, Bailey said, "On Monday, Cindy and I had the pleasure of attending the 50th anniversary celebration of the Illinois Corn Growers Association. This organization has directly impacted the growth and expansion of agricultural efforts while supporting and providing meaningful opportunities for young people in the future of agriculture. Glad to see my friend Congressman Darin Lahood (R-Dunlap) attending as well. Congratulations on the milestone of 50 years, and we look forward to the years ahead.”

The ICGA was established in 1972 to help Illinois farmers operate freely, responsibly and successfully, according to its mission statement on its website. The group has roughly 5,000 members and focuses on grassroots advocacy.

Illinois Sen. Darren Bailey | ILGA.gov

AgriNews spoke with former ICGA Executive Director John Campen, who had been involved in passing the "corn checkoff" in 1981. Campen said his favorite part of the job was working with corn farmers.

Bailey, Illinois' GOP gubernatorial candidate, is a third-generation farmer who, along with his sons, own and operates Bailey Family Farm. In addition to supporting hardworking farmers, Bailey states on his website that if he is elected governor, he will fully reopen the economy, protect Second Amendment rights, defend innocent life, ensure quality education, lower taxes and promote government transparency.