Kankakee Times

In a May 8 Facebook post, Sen. Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City) shared that May 3 was officially "Illinois Bacon Day." On their website, the Illinois Pork Producers said in 2017, Illinois produced 2.1 billion pounds of pork, fourth in the U.S. behind Iowa, North Carolina, & Minnesota. 

Eleven million pigs were finished in Illinois according to the USDA/NASS 2017 Pig Crop Report. And, with more than 296,000 head of hogs, Pike County is the top county in Illinois for pork production.

"In recognition of the contributions and importance of the state’s pork industry, I was able to recently pass legislation with the Illinois Pork Producers Association declaring May 3 as “Illinois Bacon Day. Fantastic!" Bennett said. 

In his Facebook post, Bennett shared a video of his statements on the House floor.

“Today we're asking for the Senate’s full support to declare today 'Illinois Bacon Day.' We want to draw attention to the hard-working Illinois pork producers and to Senate Resolution 22, if I may. I’d like to read a little bit of that resolution, of some very important facts: Illinois is the fourth largest pork producing state in the United states, contributing an estimated $13.8 billion to the state's economy and supporting over 57,000 jobs" Bennett said. "Pork is the most widely-eaten protein in the world, and consumers have a variety of delicious cuts choices - including bacon and Illinois pig farmers produce over 6 billion slices of bacon per year. The average American eats 17.9, almost 18, pounds of bacon per year and the hard-working hog farmers who raise this high quality product deserves our support. Whether it's plain or applewood smoked, whether store-bought or artisan-made, bacon is a meat for any meal. So what we're asking here today for may it be resolved by the Senate of the 103rd General Assembly of the State of Illinois that we declare May 3 2023 is Illinois Bacon Day and invite all Illinoisans to partake.”

The Illinois Senate Republican Caucus also shared a Facebook post about Illinois Bacon Day. 

"The Illinois Pork Producers Association was at the Capitol complex today, celebrating the newly established Illinois Bacon Day! They even provided BLT sandwiches to celebrate the occasion. We can’t pick a favorite day, but if we could, bacon day might win! " the post said.