Rep. Harper pictured at Craig Finke’s dairy farm. 
Rep. Harper at Rainbow Ranch.
State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) hosted State Representative Sonya Harper (D-Chicago), chair of the House Agriculture & Conservation Committee for a three day tour of Southern Illinois. The tour included multiple stops for Rep. Harper to learn more about agriculture and conservation in the state.
“When Rep. Harper told me she would like to visit a farm to learn more about agriculture and conservation, I quickly began to coordinate her visit,” said Rep. Meier. I’m impressed with Rep. Harper’s willingness to learn more about Illinois’ Ag industry. Harper has an impressive background developing urban farms in Chicago. I made sure her visit was filled with useful information to help her better understand the issues us farmers deal with on a daily basis.”
The three day Ag & Conservation Tour hosted by Rep. Meier for Rep. Harper included visiting Wehmeyer Seed Company in Mascoutah, Craig Finke’s dairy farm north of Nashville, The Maschhoffs in Carlyle, Rainbow Ranch, Kaskaskia Watershed, Murray Center, Excel Bottling, Prairie State Energy Campus, followed by a BBQ supper with the Washington and Clinton County Farm Bureau on the Meier family farm.
According to Rep. Sonya Harper, “As chair of the House Agriculture & Conservation Committee, I want to make sure our Ag and conservation efforts are working. I understand how important the Ag industry is to Illinois’ economy. It’s important for me to see firsthand the daily routine of our hard working farmers and learn how the decisions we make at the capitol affect the Ag industry. I want to see the industry continue to be successful. If we don’t have farmers, it would be difficult to find fresh produce at the grocery. I enjoyed my visit to Southern Illinois and appreciate Rep. Meier’s hospitality, I hope to return again soon.”