Jacksonville FFA students visit Capitol to promote agriculture education

Jacksonville High School FFA members brought Morgan County’s next generation of ag leaders to the Illinois State Capitol on Wednesday, April 9, meeting with Sen. Jil Tracy, Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer and Rep. Kyle Moore as part of Ag Day at the Capitol in Springfield.

It was Jacksonville High School FFA’s first year taking part in the annual event, and advisor Mark Dyer said the students were there as agriculture ambassadors for schools that may not always see how much ag education does beyond the classroom. He said the trip gave students a chance to speak directly with lawmakers about why agricultural education matters to their lives now and to the careers they may pursue later.

The setup included commodity baskets and short conversations with senators and representatives, even while the House was in session. Dyer said the group had a good meeting with Tracy, and the whole day gave students a practical lesson in civic engagement as much as in policy. For Jacksonville students, the value of that exchange goes beyond a photo at the Capitol. It tied classroom learning to the people who shape school rules, workforce programs and agricultural policy in Illinois.

That policy backdrop is significant in a state where agriculture is one of the biggest economic engines. The Illinois Department of Agriculture says marketing of Illinois agricultural products generates more than $51.1 billion a year, and the state ranks fifth nationally in agricultural exports with $10.6 billion shipped overseas. Illinois Farm Bureau puts farming and the broader agricultural industry at $57.8 billion in added value and more than 450,000 jobs statewide. In 2022, Illinois also logged about $29.0 billion in agricultural cash receipts, with corn, soybeans and hogs among the top commodities.

The Capitol visit also connected directly to a recent state law that makes FFA and 4-H activities excused absences from school. Gov. JB Pritzker signed HB 3814 on Aug. 14, 2023, at the Illinois State Fair, giving students attending scheduled FFA and 4-H programs credit for being in attendance. Dyer said the change is especially helpful for students who show livestock or other projects at the Illinois State Fair, where hands-on learning often overlaps with the school calendar.

Jacksonville’s FFA program continues to build recognition as well as participation. President Alex Lansaw and treasurer Cece Trace earned state degrees this year, and Lansaw placed runner-up in his record-book category at state awards day. For Morgan County families, the trip to Springfield showed how a local FFA chapter can connect classroom work, state policy and the careers that keep Illinois agriculture moving.