Aid state agriculture, self-reliant citizens

The 2008 Department of Agriculture's budget approved bythe governor included $12.8 million designated for University of Illinois Extension. To date, it has not received any of this money. Kane County's portion of approximately $260,000 is essential to the 47,967 Kane County youth and adults whobenefit from 4-H, nutrition education, master gardening, parenting skills, aging and consumer education programs.

Our family has been involved with 4-H in Kane County for the last 14 years. Next year, we will have three children studying animal science at the University of Illinois, largely because of their experiences in 4-H.

As our governor flies from Chicago to Springfield, he apparently never looks down at the farm fields that cover the majority of the state. He has ignored the rest of the state in favor of his pet projects, which mainly benefit the Chicago area.

If we promote programs that teach responsibility, leadership and independence, we will produce productive citizens instead of a state living off the governor's welfare programs.

Please contact your legislators in support of 4-H, Extension and other programs that have not received their budgeted funds and support Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn's proposed amendment for a citizen recall of elected officials.

Gov. Blagojevich has mismanaged our state for long enough.

Anne Carson

Maple Park