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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACTS:

June 30, 2015Kristi Jones217.558.1546

Rebecca Clark217.785.5484

CANDIDATES FOR THREE ILLINOIS COMMODITY BOARDS ANNOUNCED

Producers encouraged to vote in electionon July 7

SPRINGFIELD, IL-- The Illinois Department of Agriculture today released names of the

candidates slated for three commodity board elections, which are scheduled for July 7. Producers are encouraged to vote to determine members of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, the Illinois Soybean Program Operating Board, and the Sheep and Wool Marketing Board.

Voting is eligible to anyone who produces and markets commodities of these respective boards. Ballots may be cast at county Cooperative Extension Offices during regular operating hours.

“As a farmer, I understand the importance of voting to represent your industry,” said Agriculture Director Philip Nelson. “Commodity boards are the drivers behind how state checkoff dollars are expended, which ultimately affects the future of these industries.”

Check off dollars come from assessments levied at the first point of sale. State law sets

assessment for corn at 5/8 of 1 cent per bushel, soybeans at 1/2 of 1 percent of the market value, and wool at 2 1/2 cents per pound.

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COMMODITY BOARD/2222

Following is a list of commodity districts holding elections this year, the counties they include, and candidates’ names and hometowns.

ILLINOIS CORN MARKETING BOARD

DistrictCounties in DistrictCandidate and Hometown

District 2Jo Daviess, Stephenson, WinnebagoLou Lamoreux, Lanark Carroll and Ogle

District 5LaSalle, Grundy, Livingston,Paul Jeschke, Mazon

And Kankakee

District 8Peoria, Tazewell, Fulton, Mason,Michael Wurmnest, Deer Creek

Cass, Menard and Logan

District 11Christian, Montgomery, Shelby,

Fayette and EffinghamDon Murphy, Morrisonville

District 14Madison, Bond, St. Clair, Clinton,Karen Neff, Belleville

Monroe and Washington

ILLINOIS SOYBEAN PROGRAM OPERATING BOARD

DistrictCounties in DistrictCandidate and Hometown

District 2McHenry, Lake, Kane, Cook,William Awe, St Charles

DuPage, Will and KankakeeWRITE – IN

District 10Dewitt, Macon, Christian,Jered Hooker

Moultrie and ShelbyWRITE – IN

District 11Piatt, Champaign, Douglas,Doug Schroeder, Mahomet

Edgar and ColesWRITE – IN

District 14Cumberland, Clark, Effingham, Open

Jasper and Crawford

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COMMODITY BOARD/3333

District 16Clay, Richland, Lawrence,Timothy Scates, Carmi

Wayne, Edwards, WhiteWRITE – IN

and Wabash

District 17Randolph, Washington, Jefferson,David Droste, Nashville

Perry and Jackson

SHEEP AND WOOL MARKETING BOARD

DistrictCounties in DistrictCandidate and Hometown

District 2Kendall, Will, Grundy, Kankakee,Harold Davis, Odell

Livingston, Ford, Iroquois, WRITE – IN

Champaign, Vermilion, Piatt,

Douglas, Edgar, Coles,

Cumberland and Clark

District 5Adams, Schuyler, Brown, Cass,Lance Steckel, Winchester

Pike, Scott, Morgan, Calhoun,WRITE – IN

Greene, Jersey, and Macoupin

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