By Patrick Baron

BLOOMINGTON – Following 25 years of continued support, the Illinois Corn Checkoff presented a gift of $90,000 to the Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom program.

The donation, administered by the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, was given in order to show the importance of learning about agriculture at a young age. ICC Spokeswoman Tricia Braid explained that having an experience with agriculture as a student can provide a better appreciation for the work farmers do.

“Just one interaction with a farmer or farming can help influence people’s opinions about farming for the rest of their lives. So that really helps cement the dedication that the Illinois Corn Checkoff has to ag in the classroom,” said Braid.

However, with the uncertainty of state funding, the program was put into a tough spot. But Braid said other groups contributed making the donations possible. Those groups included the Illinois Beef Checkoff, The Illinois Pork Checkoff, the Illinois Dairy Checkoff, and the Illinois Soybean Checkoff.

“With the decline in state funding, and really the inability to plan on it from year to year, these sort of private support mechanisms are vital to ensuring that agriculture and farming can remain in the classroom even if it’s for a short amount of time during the school year,” said Braid.

The donation is one of many that go to support agriculture in the classroom throughout the state.

Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].