Metro East Sun

State Senator Erica Harriss was recently honored with the Friend of Agriculture award by the Illinois Farm Bureau. The award ceremony took place at Heepke Farm in Edwardsville, where she was joined by local farmers and representatives from the Madison County Farm Bureau.

Senator Harriss expressed her gratitude for the recognition, stating, “I am honored to be recognized by our local farmers and the Illinois Farm Bureau with this award.” She emphasized the importance of agriculture in her district and across Illinois, highlighting the need to support producers moving forward.

The Friend of Agriculture award is given to legislators in the 103rd General Assembly who show strong support for farming and agriculture. It acknowledges those who understand the significant impact of Illinois’ agricultural products and recognize farmers' essential role in providing food, fiber, and fuel both locally and globally.

Paige Langenhorst, President of the Madison County Farm Bureau, praised Senator Harriss's efforts since taking office. “Since taking office, Senator Harriss has shown strong support for our local farming community and continues to maintain an open line of communication with our office and beyond,” said Langenhorst. She also expressed appreciation for Harriss’s ongoing support and looked forward to future collaboration on policies.

The event saw participation from Dennis Heepke and Jason Bohnenstiehl alongside Senator Harriss during the presentation of the award.