View from the Cab: MMM...bacon

By Kent Casson

It’s thin and crispy with great flavor. Can you guess what I am alluding to?

No, I’m not talking about pizza. It’s bacon, because who doesn’t like it?

Illinois Bacon Day was celebrated last week at the Illinois State Capitol which commemorated Senate Joint Resolution 24. This resolution was sponsored by Senators Chris Balkema, Doris Turner, Sally Turner, Craig Wilcox and Li Arellano Jr. and Representatives Kelly Cassidy and Katie Stuart.

Illinois pig farmers, Illinois Pork Producers Association staff and state FFA officers handed out BLT sandwiches to legislators at the Illinois State Capitol and discussed the role pork production plays here in our state.

Over 6 billion slices of bacon are produced annually from Illinois pig farmers while Illinois pork production is ranked fourth in the United States and supports over 30,000 jobs while contributing an estimated $13.8 billion to the economy.

To help support farmers, consumers are challenged to #BringHomeTheBacon and keep the demand for pork products high by adding bacon or any pork product to your grocery cart each time you shop. In doing so, you are supporting Illinois farms, 96 percent of which are family owned. Additionally, many local restaurants participated in Illinois Bacon Day which featured various pork specials last week.

Those attending the Bacon Day event in Springfield included Illinois Pork Producers Association President Josh Maschoff of Nashville along with pork producers Cheryl Walsh and Kristi Smith of Princeville, Tyler Main of Altona, Amanda Spinner of Hillsboro, Emmalee Haege of Nashville and Phil Borgic of Raymond.

More information on the recent Bacon Day can be obtained by e-mailing Jackie Wible at Jackie@ilpork.com.

The Illinois Pork Producers Association, known as the IPPA, is an agricultural trade association representing over 800 pork producers throughout Illinois and the Illinois pork industry, which contributes over $13.8 billion and more than 30,000 jobs to the state’s economy. IPPA is an affiliate of the National Pork Producers Council and National Pork Board.

Reach out to the Illinois Pork Producers at 6411 South 6th St. Frontage Road E, Springfield, IL 62712.