SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Sept. 24 statement issued by Gov. Bruce Rauner announcing the abrupt resignations of both Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) Director Philip Nelson and State Fair Director Patrick Buchen consisted of no more than 75 words. "I appreciate Director Nelson’s commitment to agriculture and his service to the people of Illinois," Rauner, who appointed both Nelson and Buchen to their posts earlier this year, stated. "I wish him the best."

No mention of Buchen’s resignation was made in the press release, though a secondary headline read "State Fair Director Also Steps Down." However, the resignation was not denied by Rauner spokesperson Lyndsey Walters in her response to an interview request.

"We have no further comment at this time," Walters emailed in reply.

The resignations were confirmed by the Associated Press, which noted Rauner "made a big deal" of his appointment of Nelson in January, extolling the fact Nelson is a farmer and saying the IDOA under former Gov. Pat Quinn was run by "folks that generally don’t have much expertise."

Rauner was largely referring to former ag director and former state lawmaker Bob Flider, whom he fired before appointing Nelson, a past president of the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) who grows corn, soybeans and alfalfa and operates a cow-calf operation on his Seneca farm. Rauner was also referring to past state fair director Amy Bliefnick, who was likewise dismissed by him after he won the gubernatorial seat from Quinn last year.

Now, both highly-touted recruits are cleaning out their desks, though it was disclosed that Nelson would remain on board for 30 days to assist Acting Ag Director Warren Goetsch in a search for a permanent new director. Goetsch previously served as bureau chief of environmental programs for the IDOA.

Nelson’s resignation was lamented by IFB President Richard Guebert Jr., who said his former boss "put his heart and soul into the position" and he appreciated the work Nelson had done as ag director.

"He wasn’t afraid to make tough decisions to put the Illinois Department of Agriculture in a position to be successful, even during these difficult times," Guebert, a farmer from Ellis Grove, said. "He was a great mentor to me while he served as president of the (IFB). I don’t know anybody more dedicated to improving Illinois agriculture."

Buchen, a professional show manager who was raised on a sesquicentennial farm near the Fulton County village of Avon and showed livestock at the state fair as a 4-H youth, was excited about the 2015 Illinois State Fair and its theme, "Growing Illinois."

"We’ve heard from many in our ag community that ag has kind of taken a backseat at the fair. From the governor to the director of agriculture to myself, it’s our intent to reemphasize agriculture at the Illinois State Fair," Buchen, 63, told Farm World in July. "We feel the Illinois State Fair needs to be a beacon for agriculture."

Under his single year of leadership, improvements and expansions were made to the IDOA tent and a behind-the-scenes "ag tour" of stables and facilities was added. The return to agriculture as the central theme for the fair was evident in many aspects to visitors. "I like the changes (Nelson) and his staff made to put a renewed focus on youth and agriculture at the Illinois State Fair," added Guebert.

Buchen, however, ran into controversy when he announced only approximately 411,500 people visited the state fair in Springfield from Aug. 13-23. Under a new formula for estimating attendance implemented by Buchen and his staff, that number reflected fewer than half of the 2014 estimate of 844,600 visitors.

Buchen defended his estimate, saying for whatever reasons, past attendance figures had been inflated.