Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – State Sen. Doris Turner has been named chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee for the 104th General Assembly. “Agriculture plays a vital role in our state,” said Turner, D-Springfield. “I’ve worked with local, state, and federal leaders, stakeholders, and advocates in the agriculture industry to improve the lives of our farmers, prioritize the industry, and increase access to ag education.”

Turner, who has served on the committee since 2021 and was chair for the 103rd General Assembly, received the 2024 Friend of Agriculture award from the Illinois Farm Bureau. Turner has also led measures allowing students in programs like Future Farmers of America or 4-H to count time spent in work-based learning experiences as schoolwork hours, emphasizing the importance of agricultural education for today’s youth.