SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — On March 14, the Statehouse Inn across the street from the State Capitol was the site of Illinois Agricultural Legislative Day, which opened with an agricultural breakfast.

Darren Riskedal, FFA state president, had no jitters about presenting at the breakfast or addressing the state House and Senate. “I’m here to advise the legislature during these budget crunches to keep funding FFA. Agricultural education prepares not just those in agriculture, but those in other careers, with leadership skills,” he said.

Recently he traveled to Argentina and this week, heads to Washington, D.C. Placing college on hold for a year, this dynamic young man and other FFA members came out in force to support agriculture. More than 700 FFA members were at the Capitol preparing basket lunches.

During his presentation, Riskedal described a recent FFA initiative is to “tell our story. We are here today telling our stories. The 700 FFA members are telling legislators how FFA has impacted agriculture.”

Other young representatives of agriculture included Karissa Clark, the Miss Jr. Illinois Horse Race princess; Virginia Smith, Miss Illinois Horse Fair; and Cassandra Lynne Spivey, Miss Illinois Rodeo. They said they were on hand to learn “what is going on in the legislature.”

“We are all interested in the horse and equine industry,” Spivey said.

“We share a passion to educate youth,” Smith added.

The group was accompanied by Frank Bowman, executive director of the Horseman’s Council of Illinois. He came to the legislative day to improve the public interpretation of livestock issues.

“We are all on the same page,” Bowman opined. “Everyone likes to eat, but we are not reaching the public that we need to. They are not reading our (ag) news. (Animal activist groups) have been coming to our meetings for years. We need to start going to theirs.”

Illinois County Fair Queen Amelia Martens hails from Orion, She was also at this event to impress the importance of ag funding. “I was in FFA and 4-H and I want it to continue to shape youth,” she said.

Martens will continue to communicate the importance of agriculture during her reign and in her upcoming career with John Deere Construction and Forestry, where she will serve as a marketing representative.

Linda Swiercnsky, the newly elected president of Illinois Agri Women, attended with an ear toward learning: “I want to know what the legislature is doing that would affect farming.”

Illinois Department of Agriculture Director (IDOA) Bob Flider discussed the trials of 2012. “This was the hottest, driest year on record in U.S. history. Governor (Pat) Quinn declared all 102 Illinois counties disaster areas.”

One way the IDOA continued to work with farmers after the drought was to collaborate with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on corn that had aflatoxin so it could be blended with other grain.

State Sen. Sam McCann (R-Jacksonville) addressed farmers and other agricultural workers. “As a builder, I know the foundation is the most important part,” he began.

He recalled Illinois began with an agrarian foundation and agriculture is where “economy and families are built. Strong families mean a strong community. Agriculture built this nation, and you folks are the linchpin.”

State Rep. Jim Sacia (R-Freeport) shared a story of a California dairyman who wanted to establish a 5,000-cow dairy operation in his district, but could not overcome local opposition. “We must speak up,” he said. “We in agriculture are typically a quiet group, but we can’t let this happen.”

The breakfast even had a surprise visit from NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace. 

“I have had a wonderful time representing agriculture across the country, whether at Daytona, Phoenix, the Du Quoin State Fair or grain bins on your farm,” he said.

He announced his plan this summer to visit 10 Illinois dirt tracks to pursue his hobby of dirt car racing. He will host a Family Farm Night at each event.