Whitaker to speak at annual Farm Barbecue

The Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce?s 48th annual Farm Barbecue Thursday evening at the fairgrounds will feature guest speaker John Whitaker.

As Iowa state executive director of the Farm Service Agency at the United States Department of Agriculture and as a former state representative for District 90, Whitaker is the perfect person to speak to the challenges in agriculture farmers face in this area, chamber executive director Tracy Vance said.

?I?m honored to be asked,? said Whitaker. ?When I was in the Legislature, I always looked forward to the event as an opportunity to say thank you, and I still think it is.?

Whitaker will likely address USDA?s farm programs, with an emphasis on the beginning farmer loan program, and answer questions during his speech.

?The chamber hosts this event for the farm community to show them we appreciate what they do for us and our economy,? Vance said.

The barbecue is held each year for county ag producers, their spouses and their children in appreciation of their contribution to the community.

The meal, a grilled pork chop and all the trimmings, prepared and provided by the Jefferson County Pork Producers, Hy-Vee Food and Drug Store and the chamber, will be served at 6 p.m., and Whitaker will speak at 7 p.m.

Vance expects a good turnout for the event ? 400 pork chops have been ordered in preparation. He looks forward to getting to meet more members of the community at his first farm barbecue since joining the chamber.