SEGMENT: FARM ORGANIZATIONS & GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
Charles Hartke>LPL Interviews A-M>LPL Interviews A-J, Segment 10
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- FARM ORGANIZATIONS
- Had to quit farming because of bad ankles. Hired a young man, Mark Gebben, to work the farm while he went through the animal science program at the University of Illinois. Now he is President of the Illinois Pork Producers. Hired Bill Janssen for grain growing. Goal was to work for the promotion of agriculture in the legislature. 108th District contained a group of counties. Lists the counties. Reactions in Springfield. Regretted no college education for a bit, but then realized all equal. He started a downstate legislative tour to help urban legislators understand agriculture. Invited them to Effingham; twenty the first year for three days. Visited farms, farm businesses. Chamber of Commerce and business donated services. Those who understood farming helped with rural legislation. Hartke stayed in Springfield, family at home. He roomed with Lou Lang of Chicago.
- GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
- Served on Agricultural committee as senior member and spokesperson. Issue was property tax, environment. Tax proposals on agricultural items, such as bull semen. Hartke worked to get exemption and won. Livestock Facilities Management committee worked on odor issues bill. Put the power in control of the legislature, not counties.
