Lunches to Legislators

The Kane County Farm Bureau’s Lunches to Legislators is a program held in conjunction with our Food Checkout Day activities. Each year lunch is provided to local legislators and their staff courtesy of the Kane County Farm Bureau, in recognition of Food Check-Out-Day – the day on which the average American has earned enough disposable income to pay for his/her food supply for the entire year.

Kane County Farm Bureau and Kane County Corn Growers volunteers remind local legislators of the affordable food provided by America’s farmers by delivering Heavenly Ham boxed lunches, farm facts about Illinois & U.S. agriculture, and Farm Bureau Policy Resolutions. They are able to present a positive, professional and pro-active image of farmers.

Food is more affordable, abundant and safer in the United States than anywhere else in the world, due to the productivity of American farmers. It is also a result of an economic system that rewards initiative and productivity and a stable political climate that relies on sound science to regulate the safety of products in the market place. Lunches are provided to local legislators to thank them for their role in promoting that climate.

In addition to information on the growth of the market and public support for corn based ethanol, materials enclosed with the lunches include Ag Mags and ag trivia. Also included for each office are interactive DVDs on the importance of agriculture to our state and our nation’s history and economy. We do this to help the legislators and their staffs learn a little more about our industry. Also provided to each office is at least one copy of our organization’s Policy Resolutions. Legislators are encouraged to refer to this booklet, or call our office, anytime important public policy affecting Kane County and Illinois farmers is being debated.

As we celebrate the affordability of food in America, we also recognize that there are others in our community who are less fortunate. To call attention to their plight, and to assist area food pantries and food banks, the Kane County Farm Bureau hosts an annual Food Check-Out Day “Challenge” in February. The “Challenge” pits State Senators, Representatives and other public officials against one another in a friendly shopping spree for area food pantries. Jewel-Osco and the Northern Illinois Food Bank help sponsor this event.