Investing in Our Backbone 

IL-17’s farmers and rural communities are a cornerstone of our economy and our heritage. From the dairy farms of Stephenson County to the cornfields of Knox County, family farmers feed our nation and fuel our communities. Yet our farmers face mounting challenges: chaotic trade wars that closed off markets, corporate monopolies driving down farm prices and driving up costs, climate-fueled floods and droughts threatening crops, and rural towns struggling to keep young people from leaving. For too long, rural America has been treated as an afterthought or a political pawn. I come from a family that understands the rhythms of the land, and I know that when our rural communities thrive, our entire country thrives. In Congress, I will make sure the voices of farmers, farmworkers, and rural small business owners are heard loud and clear. We need policies that provide stability, fairness, and opportunity on the rural front lines. 

I’ll fight for a New Deal for rural America, including: 

• Empower small and mid-sized farmers with a “Farmers First” agenda. I will introduce and push for a Farmers First Act to ensure fair prices and support for family farms. This means expanding access to USDA loans and grants for small farms, strengthening crop insurance and disaster aid for family operations, and funding regional food processing and distribution hubs so farmers aren’t at the mercy of a few big meatpackers or grain buyers. Let’s level the playing field so independent farmers can compete and thrive. 

• Protect farmers from trade wars and market chaos. The last administration’s erratic trade wars hurt Illinois farmers badly when export markets for soybeans and pork dried up. I’ll establish a Farm Market Recovery Fund to shield farmers from tariff whiplash and trade disruptions which will aim at providing emergency assistance whenever Washington’s trade policies (or geopolitical conflicts) undercut our agricultural exports. Farmers shouldn’t go bankrupt because of political games. 

• Reward conservation and climate-smart farming. Farmers are also stewards of our land and water. I’ll expand and fully fund programs that pay farmers to adopt conservation practices like cover cropping, reduced tillage, and buffer strips that prevent runoff. We should invest in initiatives that help farmers capture carbon in their soil, protect pollinators, and make agriculture more sustainable. These practices fight climate change and often improve long-term yields, a win-win that deserves federal support. 

• Break up Big Ag monopolies. It’s time to enforce antitrust laws in agriculture. A handful of giant companies control seeds, fertilizer, meat processing, and grain trading which are squeezing farmers from all sides. I will work to break up these monopolies and stop corporate abuses, whether it’s Big Meat colluding to keep livestock prices low or Big Seed suing farmers for saving seeds. We need a competitive marketplace where farmers have power, not just corporate middlemen. 

• Invest in rural infrastructure and connectivity. Rural communities deserve 21st-century infrastructure. I’ll fight for robust funding to repair rural roads and bridges, modernize the locks and dams our grain barges depend on, and expand rural broadband and cell service. I’ll also push for a new era of rural electrification: support for community solar, wind, and biofuel projects that create energy independence and local jobs. From clean water systems to high-speed internet, I’ll work to ensure rural towns have the tools to attract businesses and young families. 

• Lift up the next generation of farmers. To keep American agriculture thriving, we must help new farmers get started, especially young people, women, veterans, and farmers of color who have historically faced barriers. I support funding for apprenticeship and mentorship programs in farming, grants for first-time farmers to acquire land and equipment, and more technical assistance through USDA extension offices. We should make it easier, not harder, for passionate folks to get a foothold in farming without taking on crippling debt. 

When rural America prospers, all of America prospers. I will never ignore the needs of our farms, small towns, and rural families; they are the backbone of IL-17 and of our nation. I’ll work to bring opportunity back to rural communities so future generations can choose to stay, work, and raise their families in the places they love.