CHICAGO (September 28, 2009)—A team of farmers last week took a break from their harvest planning to travel hundreds of miles to Chicago to meet with reporters from the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Bloomberg, and AgLetter on behalf of The Hand that Feeds U.S.

THTFU spokesmen tour the Chicago Board of Trade

"With its close proximity to so much of our nation's valuable farmland, Chicago is an incredibly important media market for us," said former House Ag Committee Chairman Larry Combest. "This trip was a great opportunity for The Hand that Feeds U.S. to start a dialogue with reporters who truly understand the importance of the industry—not only to this region, but to this country as well."

Combest was joined in Chicago by fellow spokesmen John Thaemert and Steve Verett, who discussed the project, issues surrounding the industry, and news about this year's harvest with reporters.

The spokesmen also participated in meetings at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and toured the Chicago Board of Trade.

"In Chicago, there is a general understanding that agriculture is as much of a business as it is anything else," said Thaemert, who in addition to growing wheat serves as vice president and trust officer for Citizens State Bank & Trust Co. in Ellsworth, Kansas. "Farmers face a number of financial pressures throughout the year, and we have to be business-savvy in order to survive the industry's difficult climate."

Verett, a cotton farmer from Texas, agreed with the overall assessment of Chicago's industry awareness.

"It was great to see that there are reporters who cover the industry and who have an agriculture background," said Verett. "They were well-informed on the issues, and we look forward to being a resource for them in the months and years ahead."

Chicago—which lies in the heart of the nation's agriculture industry—is the third stop in a series of urban media tours for The Hand that Feeds U.S. The group hosted an equally successful trip to New York City in May, and Washington, D.C. in July.