Illinois has new director of agriculture

SPRINGFIELD – Former Illinois legislator Bob Flider is the new director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

Flider served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2003 through 2011, working on a number of agriculture issues and related committees.

“The area that I represented in the legislature was one that had a strong agricultural emphasis, including the rural areas and rural communities where farming was prominent, but also representing Decatur, Illinois, which is home to some of the leaders in grain processing.  So agriculture and its related industries – agribusiness – have been very, very important in any role to my representation of them in the general assembly and the legislature,” said Flider.

Flider is proud of the work he did to help bring the Farm Progress Show to the Decatur area during his time in the Illinois House of Representatives.  He also has made economic development a priority.

“One of the things I’m extremely excited about is that the governor has established a goal of doubling exports by the year 2014, and agriculture will play a very strong role in that effort.  So, whether it’s grain or whether it’s livestock, agriculture will be a part of that equation,” said Flider.

Flider was named an “Agriculture Certified Legislator” by the Illinois Farm Bureau in 2004, and a “Friend of Agriculture” by the Illinois Farm Bureau in 2006, 2008 and 2010.

Since March of 2011, the Mt. Zion native has been Director of Broadband Impact at the not-for-profit Partnership for a Connected Illinois, promoting technology access in rural Illinois communities.

“[We're] trying to bring high-speed internet and broadband to rural communities, much like rural electrification was back in the 1930s,” said Flider.  “With enhanced broadband throughout our communities and rural areas, we’re going to see a quality of life in those areas and it will support the agriculture industry.”

In his new role as Agriculture Director for Illinois, Flider hopes to develop partnerships to help move agriculture forward and ensure that Illinois is a great place for agriculture.

To hear the interview with Illinois Agriculture Director Bob Flider, click here:

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Carrie Muehling can be reached at carrie@wjbc.com.