Carbondale Reporter

State Representative Paul Jacobs recently visited Cahokia Rice Farm in Alexander County as part of an educational tour organized by Ducks Unlimited. The event aimed to provide insight into rice production and milling in Illinois. State Senator Terri Bryant also joined the second Illinois Rice Farm Field Tour, which highlighted the unique aspects of rice cultivation in southern Illinois, the northernmost region for rice grown in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley.

The tour was hosted by Blake Gerard, a fourth-generation farmer at Cahokia Rice Farm, along with Joe and Sam Schneider, who are also local rice farmers. During the visit, Gerard and the Schneiders explained how their involvement in rice farming began due to the region's abundant water supply. They also discussed the farm’s focus on growing high-protein rice using regenerative and biodynamic methods. These practices are notable because rice is typically considered a crop suited for southern climates but has adapted well to flood-prone riverbanks in this area.

Jacobs, a Republican, was elected to the Illinois State House in 2023 to represent the state's 118th House District, replacing previous state representative Patrick Windhorst.

"Rice is typically considered a southern crop, but it thrives along the flood-prone riverbanks here," said Blake Gerard during the tour.