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Illinois Farm Bureau President prioritizing big issues in “lame duck” year

Illinois Farm Bureau President Rich Guebert is prioritizing key agriculture issues during his final year in office.

“I’m not going to be a lame duck, as some of my board members tease me about. We’ve got a lot on our plate. We are going to be busy all year and I look forward to continuing to engage and work with our members all across the state.”

Guebert tells Brownfield the 2023 Farm Bill is top of mind, especially since Illinois lost a congressional seat through redistricting.

“So we have new folks and new districts. What an opportunity to build relations and tell our story to those we have not had a relationship with before.”

He says the board is also closely watching any changes to the Waters of the US (WOTUS) rule and Proposition 12 as well as any items at the state level that could impact family farms.

After 10 years as IFB vice president and soon to be 10 years as president, Guebert, a grain farmer from Randolph County will term out at the end of 2023.