ACTIVATOR, the political involvement fund of Illinois Agricultural Association, has awarded its Friend of Agriculture Award and endorsement to first term U.S. Representative Phil Hare of Moline.

"We've been pleased by Phil's accessibility and his voting record in support of Farm Bureau positions," said Rock Island County livestock producer Tom Mueller, chair of the 17th Congressional District ACTIVATOR Committee.

Mueller said Rep. Hare was instrumental in winning Illinois support for the 2008 Farm Bill.

"He informed many of his Democratic colleagues in the Chicago area about the benefits of the farm bill and urged them to support it," Mueller said.

Not only did Hare achieve a 90%voting record in the 110th Congress on Farm Bureau issues, the congressman's personal style has won over Farm Bureau leaders like Mueller.

"Whenever I'm at an event with other Farm Bureau members, Phil is always quick to walk over to us to find out what's going on in agriculture and ask how he can help," Mueller said. "We want to be able to continue that kind of excellent working relationship."

A Democrat, Rep. Hare is one of three Illinois congressmen running unopposed in the November election and is the first 17th district congressman to receive the Friend of Agriculture since the award's inception.

The 17th district includes all or parts of 23 counties in western and west central Illinois. Illinois Agricultural Association, also known as Illinois Farm Bureau, is the state's largest general farm organization with more than 418,000 members.