How Policy Engagement Has Helped My Farm

I didn’t join Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG) because I was looking for meetings to attend or another group to put my name on. I joined because, over time, I realized something important: The decisions made in Springfield and Washington have a direct impact on whether my family farm can keep operating the way it always has. I’ve spent my whole life in the fields, growing soybeans and corn on the same ground my family has worked for generations. I’m plainspoken by nature and I’ve always believed in putting my head down and doing honest work. But policy, whether we like it or not, reaches right into our barns, fields and balance sheets. That’s what pushed me to become a member.

One of the biggest motivators was ISG’s work on biodiesel. I saw firsthand how increased soybean-blend biodiesel demand added real value to the bushels I was hauling out of the field. For our operation, the growth in biodiesel markets has meant roughly 10% more value per bushel. Ten percent isn’t a fancy number on a report, it’s money that pays for seed, repairs equipment and helps keep this farm running for my kids and the next generation. Seeing ISG stand up for biodiesel, promote higher blends and protect that market showed me that they weren’t just talking about helping farmers, they were actually doing it.

Another major reason I joined is because ISG acts as a watchdog when it comes to regulations. There seems to always be some proposed ban or rule floating around, limits on seed treatments, attacks on 2,4-D, glyphosate challenges, you name it. Every time one of those regulations gets pushed, it threatens the tools we use to farm. ISG has been out front defending those tools and making sure lawmakers understand what happens in a field, not just what they read in a report. On top of that, they’ve fought to protect landownership rights, something every single farmer should be wary about.

To be frank, I never once pictured myself walking into a legislator’s office. Like a lot of farmers, I assumed lawmakers wouldn’t care about what I had to say. I figured they were too busy, too political or too disconnected from real farm life. But ISG opened the door for me to take part in lobby days in both Springfield and Washington. And to be honest, I went into that first meeting with pretty low expectations.

What happened next surprised me. I sat down face-to-face with policymakers from both sides of the aisle, and they listened. Not only that, but over time I watched some of the concerns I raised — the same issues that affect my own fields — get worked into actual bills. Some of those bills even became law. To go from assuming my voice didn’t matter to seeing it make a difference was something I never expected. That experience showed me that being at the table matters and ISG is the group that gives farmers like me that seat.

What I value most isn’t flashy. It’s the straightforward benefits: policy changes that keep my operation viable, real conversations with lawmakers and the chance to explain what farming actually looks like in contrast to the big-city skylines many lawmakers are used to. I’ve talked with legislators I’ve never voted for and with others I’ve supported for years. No matter their political affiliation, they respected me, and they listened. That changed how I see advocacy. Most of these politicians mean well and are trying their best to do good by you, me and everyone else. But they can’t solve my problem or yours if we don’t tell them what it is.

Joining ISG gave me a voice, plain and simple. It gave me the tools to help protect my family farm and make sure the next generation has the same opportunities I did. For me, that’s worth every bit of the time and effort. I hope you will join me in becoming a member to make a difference for our businesses and our families! To learn more or to sign up as an ISG member, go to www.ilsoy.org/illinois-soybean-growers/membership-application/.