[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 70 (Thursday, June 8, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E917]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF ``TEACHERS ON AN AGRISCIENCE BUS'' IN 
 FURTHERING AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN DuPAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS JUNE 7, 
                                  2000

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JUDY BIGGERT

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 7, 2000

  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that agriculture is of 
primary importance to the economy of the State of Illinois. Our more 
than 76,000 farms cover about 80 percent of Illinois' land and generate 
more than $9 billion annually for our economy.
  While rows of corn have turned into rows of homes in DuPage County, 
my home county, we have not forgotten the importance of agriculture.
  For the past ten years, the ``Teachers on an Agricscience Bus'' 
program has provided the youth of Illinois with current, up-to-date, 
technological information in the importance of agriculture in their 
everyday lives and of the vast array of career opportunities available 
to them in the agriculture industry.
  When the first ``Teachers on an Agriscience Bus'' was first sponsored 
by the Illinois Pork Producers Association in 1991, who could have 
predicted that it would be so enthusiastically received that nearly 400 
teachers, school administrators, and counselors would participate? 
Those 400 individuals, in turn, provided an estimated 45,000 elementary 
through high school students with new experiences and background in the 
field of today's agriculture.
  Mr. Speaker, although Illinois' food and fiber industry employs 
nearly one million people, the number of farm operators has dropped 
from 164,000 in 1959 to 76,000 today. And most farmers in Illinois are 
more than 50 years old.
  Who will take their place?
  The ``Teachers on an Agriscience Bus'' program hopes to answer that 
question. By making suburban children aware of the numerous 
opportunities available to them in agriculture and by making them more 
aware of the field in general, the program helps ensure that our 
country's agriculture economy remains strong.
  As the ``Teachers on an Agriscience Bus'' program celebrates its 
tenth year in existence, we should recognize its foresight and 
contributions to agriculture education and we should renew our emphasis 
on agricultural education among our nation's educators and youth.
  Agriculture was and is the backbone of our country's economy. 
Programs such as ``Teachers on an Agriscience Bus'' will help keep it 
that way. And for that, we should be thankful.

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