Illinois farmers will roll into Chicago next month as the Illinois Agricultural Association Annual Meeting takes place Dec. 3-6 at the Palmer House Hilton.

The meeting kicks off with Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader activities, including the Discussion Meet. The Final Four will be held Saturday at 2:45 p.m. The Young Leader Recognition Program will be held at 9 a.m. Sunday, to recognize achievements of young farmers and leaders across the state. According to IFB’s Rachel Torbert, 60 Collegiate Farm Bureau members will also attend the meeting this year.   

ACTION: Delegates to the 2015 Illinois Agricultural Association resolution session debate policy and argue points.

IFB district representatives will meet Sunday afternoon to discuss the year and elect district directors. Every year, nine of the 18 directors are up for election. Two directors, Dale Hadden from District 10 and Chris Hausman from District 12, will retire due to tenure. Their replacements will be elected during district meetings and caucuses. Directors are elected for a two-year term and can serve for up to 10 years. Torbert says they are unaware of any challenges but notes that’s always a possibility.

Delegates will spend Monday discussing policy submissions and changes. Two resolutions that have been submitted and will be discussed:

• policy that supports teaching more civics in the classroom so students are more engaged
• policy to support eliminating duplicative levels of government

Torbert adds that members and staff will have plenty to talk about at the annual meeting, including how the state moves (or doesn’t move) in the veto session on the budget, state and federal election outcomes, and preliminary discussion on the 2018 Farm Bill.

IFB President Rich Guebert, who farms near Ellis Grove in Randolph County, sees three big topics looming for the organization:

First, what will the regulatory environment look like under President Donald Trump? Farmers are seeking regulatory relief, including the recent EPA proposal on the Waters of the U.S., he says.

Second, as the state’s fiscal situation continues to decline, Guebert says it’s time for the governor and General Assembly to put differences aside and develop a long-term plan.

Finally, Guebert says IFB delegates will receive a report on the future of the IFB organization, which is designed to help the organization attract and engage members.

For more on the annual meeting, visit their event page, or download the app here or by searching "ILFB" in various app stores.