McLean County Farm Bureau member, Craig Thompson, traveled with a group of thirteen farm leaders to Washington D.C. to discuss key issues including labor, rising input costs, trade and barriers facing new and
beginning farmers.

The group met with members of Illinois’ congressional delegation and regulatory agencies on the Illinois Farm Bureau Leaders to Washington trip

“There’s no question our members are engaged with these issues daily,” said Adam Nielsen, IFB’s
director of national legislation and policy development. “When IFB members tell their story in a way
that is memorable, they maximize their influence with their elected officials.”

Participants brought a range of backgrounds and perspectives to the table, representing local county
Farm Bureaus, state and local Young Leaders committees, and the Illinois Agricultural Association Board.

Over the course of the three-day trip, farmers met directly with elected officials and shared firsthand
accounts of how federal policy affects their farms and businesses.

On the first day, IFB members met with American Farm Bureau Federation staff to hear updates on
environmental issues, economic and regulatory shifts in the livestock industry and proposed changes to
national ag.

The group later spoke with legislators and their staff about current issues facing agriculture. Discussions
focused on the recently signed Inflation Reduction Act, congressional efforts to advance trade
agreements, priorities for the 2023 farm bill and infrastructure funding for rural Illinois.