The countdown to the 97th Illinois State FFA Convention continues, along with practices to perfect every skit, speech and stage cue.

The Illinois Pork Producers Association was at the Illinois State Capitol to celebrate the commemoration of Senate Joint Resolution 24 designating Illinois Bacon Day.

If you ask most working adults about their required annual certification processes, you may get an eye roll with their response.

With U.S. and Illinois pork producers being some of the first to be impacted directly by news coming out of Washington, D.C., Jennifer Tirey is ready to arm producers and allied industry with timely information.

In a country known for its robust agricultural industry, it is disheartening to know just how many people struggle with hunger.

The Burgener family, of Moweaqua, was named the Illinois Pork Producers Association 2024 Family of the Year.

State FFA President Thaddeus Bergschnider, Vice President Eric Wisley, Reporter Cooper Nelson, Secretary Riley Kessler and Treasurer Benjamin Bremmer are nine months through their year as state officers.

The Illinois Soybean Association, together with Illinois’ other commodity and agriculture organizations, is once again calling for nominations to the Illinois 20 Under 40 Awards.

Three superior members of the Illinois Agri-Women were honored with awards during the group’s annual meeting.

Whether it’s caring for expectant sows, introducing Peoria County fourth-graders to baby pigs or steering the Illinois Pork Producers Association as its new president, Cheryl Cowser Walsh approaches each task with a positive mindset.

The Illinois Pork Producers Association is leading a call to members of the Illinois congressional delegation for a legislative remedy to state-by-state livestock production requirements.

The second annual Illinois Ag Retail Survey is underway to collect data on nutrient management practices.

While there’s not a lot that the leader of the state’s pork association can do about the current condition of the Illinois and U.S. pork industry, the Illinois Pork Expo can help producers stay prepared for whatever comes.

Illinois Farm Families’ “We Are the 96%” campaign will resume paid advertising opportunities in January and February, concluding with a Super Bowl commercial for Illinois audiences on Feb. 11.

2023 was a year of wins and continued challenges that will extend into the new year for the corn industry.

Illinois high school football teams have entered the final weeks of playoffs, but one team already has a championship title.

The upcoming implementation of California Proposition 12 on Jan. 1 and its ramifications is among the primary focuses of the Illinois Pork Producers Association.

The Illinois Corn Growers Association teamed up with agricultural organizations throughout the state on Aug. 3 to discuss emerging markets and legislation impacting the industry.

After undergoing a rigorous judging process, 20 farmers were identified as the second class of Illinois 20 Under 40 award winners.

The Illinois Livestock Leadership Institute is a combined effort of the Illinois Pork Producers Association and the Illinois Beef Association that provides an opportunity for young men and women to become actively involved in the livestock industry and all of agriculture.

McDonald’s, the world’s largest restaurant chain, is not only a large end user of pork, but also a net exporter of “The Other White Meat.”

The Illinois Soybean Association and its partners are honored to continue the Illinois 20 Under 40 recognition program in 2023. The program celebrates 20 young farmers under 40 for their work in the agricultural community and beyond.

If you asked the five Illinois FFA state officers where they would be on any given night during February and March, each answer would be different each time.

The 2023 Illinois Pork Producers Association delegate body recently elected four at-large directors and three new district directors.

With the interim nutrient loss reduction goals deadline just two years away, agriculture groups are teaming up to collect verified information of what efforts are underway in fields.

The Illinois Pork Producers Association celebrated reaching 1 million pounds of pork donated to regional food banks through its Pork Power program at the place where it all started 14 years ago.

For the past year, Thomas Titus has added “president” to his already lengthy list of titles that include dad, husband, showpig producer and pork producer. Titus has served as president of the Illinois Pork Producers Association.

In 2008, pork producers across the country were suffering, Phil Borgic and Mike Haag among them. Both farmers, Borgic, of rural Montgomery County, and Haag, of rural Livingston County, were members of the Illinois Pork Producers Association board of directors.

Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom program remains a trusted resource for children to learn about agriculture, and the program recently received funding to continue classroom lessons thanks to IAA Foundation grants to local county coalitions.

Transparency is among the priorities of the Illinois Pork Producers Association in its efforts to promote the consumers’ preference for “the other white meat.”

The Illinois Soybean Association kicked off our new fiscal year with a slate full of promising and purposeful projects that place Illinois soybean farmers’ profitability as a top priority by growing opportunities for soybean uses, markets, accessibility and demand.

Illinois Corn is celebrating being named as a valued partner in multiple projects funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program.

Crop insurance protection, market access and nutrition programs were among the top priorities expressed in a farm bill listening session held during the Illinois State Fair’s Agriculture Day.

With the U.S. truck driver shortage at an all-time high, the Illinois Pork Producers Association is promoting a scholarship program for applicants seeking to obtain or renew their commercial driver’s license in Illinois.

The Illinois Farm Families Coalition’s consumer engagement campaign to build trust in Illinois farmers and their farming practices was the recipient of the Public Relations Society of America’s prestigious Silver Anvil Award in the “Reputation Management” category.

Leadership from four Illinois commodity groups and Illinois Farm Bureau advocated for an increase in the Illinois state budget request by $750,000 from the General Assembly’s fiscal year 2023 budget toward the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

Illinois is known for two things: the high-quality products it feeds to the world and the high-quality growers who make it happen.

Illinois Soybean Association has named Eileen Urish as trade and exports manager.

It’s been said two heads are better than one. The Illinois Soybean Association and IL Corn will put that theory to test at this year’s Farm Progress Show, together sharing our priorities and people so we can deliver twice the impact during this one, great event.