Don Moffitt has retired as assistant director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. He tenured his resignation prior to the end of the year, having served from mid-January 2017 through Dec. 31.

“I’m leaving on my own terms,” Moffitt says. “It’s an honor to have served.”

While he originally intended to serve through the end of the governor’s current term, family, farm and other obligations led to his decision to an earlier retirement. Moffitt’s son, Justin, runs their 900-acre family farm near Gilson, Ill., and is a full-time Galesburg firefighter.  

“There were times last fall when it would’ve been helpful if I’d been more available to help on our family farm,” Moffitt says. “By retiring but still doing several volunteer jobs for IDOA, I can be more available for the farm while still working for the best interests of Illinois agriculture.”

Moffitt also wants to devote more time to finding a new use for the former animal disease laboratory building in Galesburg. He’s managed the empty building, maintaining heat and water lines, since its closure a year ago, and is working with the city of Galesburg, the Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development and local legislators to find a new use for it in the private sector.

“I wish it was still an animal disease lab, but the next best thing is a good re-use,” he adds. 

During his time at IDOA, Moffitt served as a liaison on the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council and the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, in addition to being a voice for agriculture and rural safety. His work centered on securing firefighting foam for ethanol fires, and on funding fire department training for Res-Q Tube use. Previously, he served 24 years in the Legislature as state representative for the 74th District.

“We wish him well in his retirement,” says Becky Clark, IDOA communications manager.

Moffitt, who says he averaged a thousand miles a week traveling for IDOA, says he’s leaving with “wonderful feelings and great respect” for Director Raymond Poe, the chief of staff and everyone else with whom he worked.

“I’m honored for the experience,” he says. “I want to continue to advocate for agriculture in any way possible. I don’t consider this the end of my service to the state or to agriculture. I’m receptive for things that would work into my schedule in any way that would be a positive force for agriculture.”

IDOA says the assistant director’s position is filled by the governor’s office; no word on when it might be filled. Prior to Moffitt’s tenure, the position had been vacant since October 2008, when it was last held by Tom Jennings.