New Illinois logo to promote farmers who served in military

A new logo on agricultural products will help identify Illinois farmers, fishermen and ranchers who served in the military.

The state Department of Agriculture and Illinois Farm Bureau say veterans can take part in a national branding campaign called Homegrown by Heroes. It allows agricultural producers who served or are serving in the military to advertise that fact by putting a special logo on their products.

The program will be introduced Tuesday at a Farm Bureau meeting in Bloomington. Agricultural officials say a statewide steering committee is being formed to help implement the program in Illinois.

They say consumers and businesses eventually will see the logo on business signs and in places where they buy agricultural products, giving them the opportunity to support farmer veterans.