The state’s Director of Agriculture has been approved by the Illinois Senate. Jerry Costello Jr. can now drop the “acting” tag from his title.

In a virtual setting, hosting the Illinois Ag Legislative Day, Costello says after a little more than a year on the job he’s proud of what the industry and the IDOA did to overcome challenges presented by the pandemic.

Department of Ag staffers and members of the FFA packed baskets of Illinois food products that were passed out to lawmakers and staff at the Capitol.