Join GRITs: GrassRoots Issue Teams

At Illinois Farm Bureau, good politics start with good policies… and good policies start when an idea sparks inside you and farmers like you. IFB's GRITs teams bring together ideas from across the state. Some ideas grow into other ideas. Some get energized and become action plans. Others light the way to new and improved policies. You don't have to be overflowing with ideas to join. Just be passionate about farming!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are GRITs? What do they do?
Designed to enhance IFB's existing policy development process, GrassRoots Issue Teams (or GRITs) are comprised of IFB members who have demonstrated leadership or interest in promoting their commodities or issues and who will work on behalf IFB members across the state. GrassRoots Issue Teams work with local county leaders to identify issues that should be discussed at the local level as part of IFB's traditional policy development process. As leaders IFB's policy development process, GRIT members are provided opportunities to participate in Leaders to Washington programs, foreign trade missions, and other leadership opportunities.

Members of each team will hear from top trend setters in agriculture. They will learn what innovations, ideas, and technology will impact Illinois agriculture. They will help identify the key roles a general farm organization such as Illinois Farm Bureau must take in order to better serve members and help improve the member's bottom line as agriculture grows into the 21st century. Each person is appointed to a team for one year and may be reappointed. Each team will meet two to three times a year as appropriate. Meetings may be supplemented by periodic mailings and conference calls.

Why would my Farm Bureau need GRITs?
The best ideas and solutions to agricultural challenges have always come from people at the grassroots level. Each GRIT helps enhance that important connection to the country and provides an excellent opportunity for continued, meaningful involvement from grassroots members. Plus, GrassRoots Issue Teams ensure that sound and timely ideas from the country get serious attention.

Who is on these teams?
Each team includes Farm Bureau men and women, an IFB Board Member, and county Farm Bureau managers. Each GRIT is chaired by a voting member of the team chosen by the team. GRITs serve in an advisory role to the IFB Board of Directors. All recommendations and actions of the teams are reported in writing, using the appropriate Board committee structure.

How are theses teams put together?
There are eight teams that cover the following policy and issue areas:

1. Conservation & Natural Resources: alternative uses of land, Best Management Practices, Conservation Reserve Program, floodplain issues, Food Quality Protection Act, water quality issues, landfills, open land trusts, wetlands, wildlife, etc.
2. Crop Production & Trade: feed grain production, identity preservation, infrastructure, value-added crop production, agribusiness relations and linkage, biotechnology, biotech labeling, international trade, export programs, etc.
3. Equine: education, legislation, trail preservation, liability protection, check-off, producer rights, etc.
4. Livestock & Dairy: animal health and disease control, dairy policy and marketing, industry structure, livestock contracting and marketing, livestock waste management, etc.
5. Renewable Resources & Energy: global climate change, carbon credits, greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, biofuels, biomass, wind energy, rights of producers and landowners, indirect land use, etc.
6. Risk Management & Farm Programs: contract marketing, commodity exchanges and their functioning and regulation, crop insurance, risk management, production contracts, farm income, farm policy, etc.
7. Rural Life: economic development, education, farmer image, government purchases of private land, land use, law enforcement, rural health issues, quality of life,
   taxes, telecommunications, transportation, etc.
8. Specialty Crops & Labor: specialty crop contracting, labeling and marketing of fruits, vegetables, herbs, forestry, labor availability and cost issues, etc.

Each GRIT is responsible for:

• Analyzing problems and opportunities, surfacing emerging issues, and enhancing IFB's policy development process.
• Developing and recommending to IFB ways and means of solving problems and meeting member needs.
• Providing leadership and support of activities to achieve objectives within IFB policy guidelines.
• Reviewing current IFB policy as it relates to issue areas.
• Recommending how to implement IFB policy to address challenges affecting the issue areas.
• Identifying and analyzing agricultural issues not covered in IFB policy and making recommendations for IFB policy development.
• Recommending how to involve IFB members in the implementation of policies adopted by IFB delegates.
• Providing grassroots reaction to issues that require IFB involvement and leadership.

How can I get join?
Applications are typically accepted June-August of each year. If you have missed the deadline for this year, please keep us in mind for next August. Until then, please download and read the brochure attached below or contact your county Farm Bureau for additional information.