Chicago-area State Rep. Nabeela Syed (D-51) recently visited the Black Hawk College East Campus to learn about the college and its agriculture programs.
Her visit was part of the Illinois Farm Bureau Adopt-a-Legislator program that matches urban legislators with a downstate county Farm Bureau. The program aims to educate urban legislators about agriculture and rural life, while also helping Farm Bureau members better understand the needs and concerns of an urban district.
Rep. Syed was born and raised in the northwest Chicago suburb of Palatine and has represented the 51st District since January 2023. She has been the Henry County Farm Bureau’s adopted legislator for the last two years and in November 2024 received the Friend of Agriculture Award from the Illinois Farm Bureau.
During her Black Hawk College visit, Rep. Syed met faculty, staff, students and college president Dr. Jeremy Thomas and toured the East Campus’ Ag Arena, Ag Pavilion and Veterinary Sciences Center -VSC.
In the VSC, the group saw one of the Veterinary Technology program’s newest teaching tools – a model of a cow that allows instructors to teach the correct technique for giving intramuscular injections to cattle.
“We are extremely blessed with the equipment and models that we are able to use when teaching our students,” said Janet Johnson, assistant professor of veterinary technology.
The group talked about agriculture issues, the importance of ag education, and the proposal in the Illinois legislature to allow community colleges to award baccalaureate degrees in certain disciplines.
Rep. Syed shared her perspective on her hometown and the surrounding areas she represents.
“I think all parties were rewarded by increased perspective,” said Isaac Stewart, associate professor of biology. “We all learned that we are more similar in goals than different,” he said.
Also in attendance were State Rep. Dan Swanson (R-71) of Alpha, Kewanee FFA students Katy Carton and Kashen Ellerbrock; Black Hawk College faculty members Drew Cotton and Cole Wright; Black Hawk College students Olivia Shike and Kelsey Zepp; Sadie Asher and Katie Laleman with the Henry County Farm Bureau; and Brian Corkill with B.A. Farms, Galva.
