Soybeans among highlighted products during state fair

Jim Martin is District 6 director of the Illinois Soybean Association. (Photo courtesy Jim Martin)

By Cynthia Grau

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Fair’s main purpose is to highlight and celebrate agriculture, and those who grow and promote soybeans have joined in.

Jim Martin, District 6 Director for the Illinois Soybean Association, spent Ag Day at the fair and attended the Ag Day Brunch with dignitaries including Illinois Agriculture Director Raymond Poe and Governor Bruce Rauner. Martin said there are so many facets of agriculture to tell the general public, especially the importance of soybeans.

“There are other livestock shows throughout the week, and we’re telling people to look at those animals and have an appreciation for the hard work people put into raising that livestock,” Martin said. “Those pigs and chickens are the number one customer of our Illinois soybeans.”

Martin also said people can visit them to learn more during the 2017 Farm Progress Show in Decatur August 29-31.

Cynthia Grau can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…