Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Farm Bureau issued the following announcement on Dec. 19.

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Matteson, enjoyed ice cream and conversed with constituents during the Illinois Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Kelly attended the Ice Cream Social, compliments of Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc., and the Illinois Agricultural Association Foundation Live Auction to benefit Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom.

Constituents from Cook, Kankakee and Will counties were able to converse with Kelly during the event. They touched base on issues such as trade, the Renewable Fuel Standard and weather challenges. Multiple constituents also recalled when Kelly visited their farms.

“Years ago, we went on a gator ride on our farm to watch the cows,” recalled Steve Warrick (Will County). “She (U.S. Rep. Kelly) said she didn’t know anything about farming, and I said I didn’t know anything about politics, so we learn from each other. We developed a friendship on honesty and trust, not politics. Tonight I asked her for support on USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) and we talked about family and I thanked her for coming.”

Kelly also visited the farm of Keith Mussman, Kankakee County Farm Bureau president. “Our relationship is excellent (with U.S. Rep. Kelly), she understands the farm community and I think she does everything she can to get USMCA passed,” elaborated Mussman. “She is also very responsive.”

Mark Schneidewind, Will County Farm Bureau manager, shared how Kelly has met with their local soybean association. “We have a good relationship and are working with her on trade agreements,” said Schneidewind. “We have all these agriculture associations and we need to work together.”

The camaraderie between constituents and Kelly was clear during the event. “I’m happy my district is the way it is because farming is such a big industry in Illinois,” Kelly told FarmWeek. “The farmers open up their homes to me. Whether you voted for me or not, my job is to lift all votes,” she noted.

Original source can be found here.