June 18, 2026

Future leaders highlight Illinois agriculture

By Tom C. Doran

Representatives from the New Berlin FFA were among the nearly 1,000 students participating in the annual Illinois Ag Legislative Day in Springfield on March 29. Members meeting with legislators were Will Crain (from left), Hunter Costello, Dylan Walton, adviser Kaitlan Cray and Henry Wys. (AgriNews photo/Tom C. Doran)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — After a two-year hiatus from the usual large-scale gathering, a sea of blue jackets returned to the Illinois State Capitol for Ag Legislative Day on March 29.

Nearly 1,000 FFA members and vocational agriculture teachers from across the Prairie State met with legislators to discuss policies and deliver lunches and 275 commodity baskets with Illinois products to lawmakers as a reminder of the multiple faceted impacts agriculture has in everyone’s lives.

The popular event was not held on a large-scale basis in 2021 and 2022 due to COVID restrictions.

AgriNews caught up with representatives from the New Berlin FFA as they wrapped up their deliveries. Here are their thoughts on the event.

“We delivered the baskets to a senator and a representative. The baskets contained food all grown in Illinois. This is my first time at Ag Legislative Day. It’s great to see everybody from up by Chicago to Decatur. I met an FFA member from Quincy. We’ve met people from all around the state. It’s a great experience for everyone.”

Will Crain, chapter treasurer

“It’s been a great time serving snacks to the legislators and a really good time being part of FFA.”

Hunter Costello

“This is my first time doing this. It’s good. I like seeing everybody here giving stuff to the senators and representatives. They got the goodie baskets with popcorn, beef sticks, things like that to snack on.”

Dylan Walton

“It’s great to see the blue jackets back in the capitol giving something back to all of the legislators and their secretaries who work so hard for us on a daily basis and provide them with some items that are grown around the state and maybe opening the eyes of some of the senators and representatives about items we do grow in Illinois that they may have otherwise known if it wasn’t for this. It’s also great to have all of the local organizations donate those products to our baskets for his cause, as well. The students can get together to talk to peers, meet people across the state and to learn how to interact with legislators a little bit.”

Kaitlan Cray, chapter adviser

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Tom Doran

Tom C. Doran

Field Editor