SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Members of the Illinois general assembly are recognizing May 22 as “Illinois Pork Day” at the Capitol. With pork being served inside and out of the building, Illinois pig farmers have a big presence in the state.
Members of the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) will be serving free pork tenderloin sliders outside of the capitol on Monroe Street, beginning at 11:00 a.m. while supplies last. Look for the big, pork trailer parked Northwest of the capitol building. Anyone is welcome.
What once began as the “Bacon Caucus” in the general assembly, has now spurred into the 4thannual BLT Day. Inside the capitol, Illinois pig farmers will be handing out complimentary BLT box lunches to members of the house and senate. On behalf of over 1,700 pig farmers in the state, we would like to thank our legislators for time spent in their role and their leadership. This gives farmers an opportunity to visit with their legislators, while also bonding over the mutual love of bacon.
In Illinois, the average finishing barn holds 2,400 pigs. Those pigs provide consumers with more than 160,000 (5-7 oz) pork chops and over 2.5 million slices of bacon! In one year, those pigs will also consume approximately 20,000 bushels of Illinois corn and 3,000 bushels of Illinois soybeans.
The pork industry contributes more than $1.8 billion and 10,500 jobs to the state’s economy. Although the number of pig farmers continues to decrease, their productivity remains strong, in order to feed our growing world.
— Illinois Pork Producers Association
For more articles out of Illinois, click here.