State Representative Tom Weber (IL) | Representative Tom Weber (R) 64th District
State Representative Tom Weber (IL) | Representative Tom Weber (R) 64th District
The soybean may soon become the official state bean of Illinois, aiming to highlight the crop's significance to the state.
State Rep. Mary Beth Canty has introduced a measure to designate the soybean as Illinois' official state bean. In a recent news release, Canty emphasized the importance of soybeans, stating they are "one of the most important crops in our state. "
According to Canty, Illinois stands as the top producer of soybeans in the United States. She noted that farmers cultivate over 600 million bushels annually across more than a quarter of the state's farmland.
If successful, this legislation would add soybeans to an eclectic list of official state symbols for Illinois. Currently, these include Tully monsters (the state fossil), square dancing (the state dance), and popcorn (the state snack).