Legislative Action

Standing up for agriculture

DeWitt County Farm Bureau's Legislative Action committee oversees local government involvement, state government outreach, the Adopt A Legislator program, local policy development, and regulatory issues. The committee also attends local and state government meetings to ensure farm and agriculture perspectives are represented.

FB Act and the Legislative Action Center

If you don't stand up for agriculture, who will? That's why Farm Bureau members are signing up to be a unified voice on ag issues with Illinois Farm Bureau's Legislative Action Center.

On the Action Center, you can easily find contact information to present the agricultural perspective to lawmakers and government on hot-button issues. You can also sign up for Farm Bureau Agricultural Contact Team (FB Act), a text and email service that reminds users when it's time to share your opinion with elected officials or government agencies via an action request.

Responding to action requests is simple:

Read it: Take a moment to read about the issue. Typically action requests include a couple of short, quick-to-read points about the issue. You don't have to memorize anything; simply read it to understand how it might affect you, your community, and your neighbors.
Call it, tweet it, or email it: Once you've read about the issue, pick up the phone or visit the Legislative Action Center to contact your legislator. If you call, you don't have to be an expert - give the clerk your name, address (they want to know you're a constituent), and your position on the issue.
Report it: If you've gone through the Legislative Action Center, you're done. If not, simply call or email the DeWitt County Farm Bureau office or [email protected] to let us know you've made your contact.

Grassroots Policy Development

Policy starts with the individual needs of farmers. If you have an idea for a change in Illinois Farm Bureau policy, contact a DeWitt County Farm Bureau board member. Ideas from farmers will ultimately be passed on to the IFB Resolutions Committee for review, and then to the voting delegates from each county at the IAA Annual Meeting. This is a grassroots organization at work!

ACTIVATOR

What's the extra $1 or $5 option on your dues notice? That's ACTIVATOR! ACTIVATOR is Illinois Farm Bureau's political involvement fund. It works to elect pro-farm candidates and office-holders, no matter their political party or level of office - local, state, or federal. ACTIVATOR supports these candidates in order to pass laws and policies that support Illinois agriculture and farm families. How? Thanks to donations from Farm Bureau members like you!

ACTIVATOR helps members:

Protect the business of farming by heading off unnecessary legislation
Discover a greater personal role in politics and government
Respond to the changing political climate and the farmer’s changing positions in society
Offer political help to lawmakers who have demonstrated their support for agriculture