Cook County sees pro-ag resolution as first step
The Cook County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution that celebrates agriculture’s importance in the county, but that’s just the beginning.
“It’s important to get the (Cook) County Board to recognize agriculture does exist and use our platform to educate residents about agriculture in Cook County. This is just the beginning. ... Next is setting goals how Cook County government can support agriculture, can help support our local farmers and help grow the agricultural industry across Cook County. Education is the first step,” Commissioner Josina Morita, one of the resolution’s sponsors, told RFD Radio Network and FarmWeek.
Her fellow commissioner, resolution sponsor and downstate farm native, Scott Britton, agreed: “I understand the challenges that come with the family farm. In the county, through our economic development, we’re giving grants. ... We still have some funding through ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) and try to pass that through to those businesses that can use it most, including our ag businesses. And (we’re) also trying to find people to work at our local farms. ... We’re doing a lot of things to coordinate job training and job placement to help our businesses.”
With support from Morita and Britton, the Cook County Farm Bureau highlighted agriculture’s diversity in the county and its economic impact, said Bona Heinsohn, Cook County Farm Bureau director of governmental affairs.
To date this year, Cook County became one of 26 county governments around the state to pass a pro-agriculture resolution. The Illinois Farm Bureau Board made county government passage of a pro-agriculture resolution a local priority. The overall goal seeks county government recognition of agriculture’s importance and support from county officials and staff.
Cook County agriculture is diverse and includes everything from traditional row crops, dairy and orchards to plant nurseries, food processing, horses and ponies and a range of urban agriculture.
In Cook County, agriculture pumps nearly $20 million into the county economy and employs more than 4% of its workforce. The county’s equine industry ranks second nationwide with sales of more $1.5 million. Plus, 15% of the county’s farmers sell directly to consumers at farmstands, roadside markets, farmers markets and subscription agriculture.
“Bona has made us all think about agriculture and farmers in Cook County,” Morita said. “We think of ourselves on the consumer ag (side), but we are also producer ag and part of the entire eco system and industry.”
The pro-agriculture resolution provided an opportunity to “re-imagine what ag means,” Morita continued. “Ag is also urban agriculture, aquaponics, vertical farming and being creative about how we are incorporating agriculture into urban life as well.”
With National Agriculture Day in March, Heinsohn had approached Morita with an idea of passing the resolution that month. But the county Farm Bureau has developed a relationship with county commissioners, who have become strong advocates for agriculture, through the years.
The resolution “was a chance for us to show how engaged and how responsive our Cook County Board is,” Heinsohn added.
With a nod to his farmer grandfather, Othel Jacobs, Britton said he would take his fellow commissioners, “many of whom have probably never been to a farm,” to learn how to milk a cow.
“I think I remember how to do it,” he said with a chuckle. “That kind of thing helps with the understanding of modern agriculture and also the incredible work that is done through our farmers in Cook County and throughout Illinois.”
Cook County Farm Bureau plans to present the county board with a plaque commemorating the resolution passage later this month.