CONGRESSMAN TIM JOHNSON RECEIVES 2012 FRIEND OF AGRICULTURE AWARD

Lindsay Mitchell

Nov 21, 2012  |  ICGA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Lindsay Mitchell 309-827-0912

BLOOMINGTON, ILL. Congressman Tim Johnson was awarded the 2012 Friend of Agriculture Award at the Illinois Commodity Conference held in Bloomington Tuesday, Nov. 20.

“Johnson has been an active voice for farmers in Washington, D.C., for more than a decade,” says Bill Wykes, a corn and soybean grower from Yorkville, Ill., and the current Illinois Soybean Association chairman. “Serving on both the House agriculture and transportation committees, he has consistently supported policies that help protect farmers and American agriculture. We wish him the best in his retirement and congratulate him on this distinguished award.”

The Friend of Agriculture Award is presented by the Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Milk Producers Association, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Soybean Association and Illinois Wheat Association.

According to Illinois Beef Association President Jeff Beasley, “The Illinois Beef Association has enjoyed a great working relationship with Congressman Johnson for a large number of years. Not only does he understand the issues and needs of agriculture, but he knows that it is the core of small, family-owned business in Illinois…Congressman Johnson is more than deserving of this award. On behalf of the beef producers of Illinois, I want to congratulate him on this honor.”

“Congressman Tim Johnson has been a constant support to Illinois agriculture during his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives,” says Jeff Scates, Illinois Corn Growers Association president. “I hope receiving this award expresses our sincere gratitude for his service, for his leadership and for his tireless care of the farmers in his district.”

The Friend of Agriculture Award is given each year to individuals who have contributed significantly to improving agriculture in Illinois. Nominees are submitted by each of the sponsoring commodity groups and selected by representatives of the groups.

“The Illinois Wheat Association is very grateful for Congressman Johnson’s strong alliance with the agriculture industry and our issues,” says Diane Handley, manager of the Illinois Specialty Growers Association. “We appreciate his loyalty and steadfast commitment.”

Johnson is a six-term congressman, elected in 2000. He has represented the 15 th Congressional District, which covers Champaign-Urbana and also includes portions of Normal and Bloomington. Throughout his tenure as congressman, he has stayed connected to his constituents by holding more than 100 phone conversations with the district every day. He has been a key voice in helping push for a new farm bill, working with colleagues to find savings while maintaining the core programs farmers rely on to ensure a bountiful harvest for Americans year in and year out. Johnson announced he would not be running for re-election in April 2012.

About the Illinois Commodity Conference
The Illinois Commodity Conference is an annual event that provides an opportunity for agricultural leaders to meet and discuss challenges facing the industry. The Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Milk Producers Association, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Soybean Association and Illinois Wheat Association work together to host the event. The 2012 conference, “Working Together Everyone Achieves More,” was held at the DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Center in Bloomington, Ill., on Nov. 20. For more information, visit www.ilcommodityconf.org.