Virtual Food & Farm Week of Action

Announcing the first Virtual Food & Farm Week of Action, April 19-22, 2021 - Photo of line drawn graphics of a fork, plate, and shovel superimposed on a display of locally sourced syrups, with the Alliance logo in lower right corner.

Brought to you in partnership with Advocates for Urban Agriculture, American Farmland Trust, Central Illinois Young Farmers Coalition, Chicago Food Policy Action Council, Food Works, Illinois Environmental Council, The Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship, Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT, Izaak Walton League, The Land Connection, Liberty Prairie Foundation, The Nature Conservancy in Illinois, Prairie Rivers Network, and Seven Generations Ahead.

You care about small farms, small businesses, and local food. You use your purchasing power to buy local whenever you can. Now it’s time to use your political power! Your voice and your choice matter– let’s use them together.

Join us for the first ever Virtual Food & Farm Week of Action, April 19th- 22nd.

Throughout the week, we’ll provide you with easy opportunities to learn about the issues, take action, and join forces with farmers and food lovers in your community and throughout the state. Together, we’ll support the legislation on our 2021 Policy Agenda, which will:

  • Grow the number of farmers and local food businesses in Illinois,
  • Revitalize our communities, 
  • Protect our soil and water
  • Keep food dollars local

Because we’re meeting virtually, this year, you can join from wherever you are in Illinois!

Register for more info!

Food & Farm Week of Action Agenda

Kick-Off Lunch Hour:
Monday, April 19th
12 Noon

Join us over the lunch hour for a kick-off where you’ll: 

  • Hear opening remarks and stories from legislative champions
Alliance Legislative Champion
Rep. Will Guzzardi, 39th District
Alliance Legislative Champion
Rep. Tim Butler, 87th District

  • Get a quick overview of our legislative agenda and where our bills are now
  • Learn the tricks of the trade for talking with legislators and their staff 
  • Take action to make phone calls to your legislators alongside hundreds of other farmers and food lovers across the state at the same time. 
  • Learn about upcoming opportunities to participate in virtual constituent meetings and happy hours throughout the week. 
Register for the Kick-off!

Virtual Constituent Meetings
Monday, April 19th- Thursday, April 22nd

Take ACTION!

You can sign up to join a virtual in-district meeting with your own state legislator. Check out the list of meetings scheduled and sign up for yours. (If you are not sure who your state legislators are, you can check this website first to find out!)

State Senate Meetings:

State House Meetings:

We’re working with members across the state to set up even more Virtual Constituent Meetings, so be sure to . You can help! Sign up to be a Lobby Day Leader and take the lead on setting up a meeting with your Representative and/or Senator.

Sign up to be a Lobby Day Leader

Virtual Happy Hour
Thursday, April 22nd
5pm

Join us in community with Lobby Day Leaders and attendees to share a virtual drink, share your stories and experience speaking with your legislators, and celebrate your hard work. Entertainment is in the works!

Alliance 2021 Legislative Agenda

This February, Alliance members from across the state came together during our Annual Gathering of Stewards to discuss and approve our state policy agenda. The legislation in the agenda was put forward by farmers in our Local Food Farmer Caucus and Soil Health Farmer Caucus with widespread approval by our members at large. The 2021 Policy Agenda will help grow small farms and the local food economy, make local food more accessible to vulnerable populations, make state purchasing of local food a priority, and help Illinois farmers create greater climate resilience for our state.

Cottage Food Reform is a Primary Issue - Photo of cottage food produced syrups from Glacier's End Farm outside of Carbondale in Southern Illinois.

Support Farmers, Artisan Food Maker, and Home Bakers:

Home-to-Market Act HB2615, Rep. Guzzardi

Defending Conservation Funding is a Primary Issue - Photo of Alliance member Andy Hazzard smiling, at her farm, standing in a field with a farming implement.

Protecting clean water & climate resilience:

Defend Conservation Funding: HB1792, Rep. Vella

SNAP match for Farmers Markets is a Primary Issue - Photo of young family, young mother and two sons, choosing apples at a farmers market

Support Healthy Food Access at Farmers Markets while keeping SNAP Dollars Local:

SNAP Match for Farmers Market Bill: HB 2520, Rep. Butler

The Good Food Purchasing Policy is a Primary Issue - Photo of young girl smiling, holding up locally sourced lunch.

Shift millions of dollars in annual state food procurement toward Local, Fair, Healthy, Humane, and Sustainable farms and food businesses:

Good Food Purchasing Policy Resolution

SIGN-ON SUPPORT

  • Support for Black Farmers Resolution: HR0046, Rep. Harper

  • Protect Your Right to Garden
    Vegetable Garden Protection Act: HB 0633, Rep. Harper

  • Better Rules for School Lunches for our Kids
    Update School Lunch Bidding Policy: HB 1782, Rep. Gordon-Booth

EMERGING ISSUES

Livestock Processing is an Emerging Issue - Photo of cattle in the field

Solve the Livestock Processing Bottleneck: policy solutions in development

If these issues are important to you then please, join us for the first ever Virtual Food & Farm Week of Action, April 19th- 22nd.Register!

Register

The Food & Farm Week of Action is brought to you in partnership with: