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State Recognizes Knox County Native, Former Ag Secretary
A Galesburg native and former Illinois and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture has been honored at the Illinois State Fair.

Gilson's John Block was recognized Tuesday during Ag Day at the fair, through a ceremony re-naming the state Agriculture Department's Administration Building after him.

Block says he's excited and almost astounded by what the state has done for him.

"My roots are in Illinois soil, in rural America, and always have been, having started out here on a farm in 4-H, and in a one-room country school," Block said.

Governor Pat Quinn thanked Block for all he's done for Illinois agriculture, and believes this will be important for Ag department employees.

"[The employees will know] when they walk through these doors that a real leader -- somebody who understood them from top to bottom when it came to making sure our agriculture is second to none -- the building is named after him," Quinn said.

State Representative Don Moffitt and State Senator Darin LaHood sponsored legislation that Quinn signed into law Tuesday making that re-naming happen.

It was one of a number of ag-related bills Quinn signed, including one that requires farm implements, tractors, and others to display slow-moving vehicle emblems.
08 15 12 by Newsroom
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