SPRINGFIELD — Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs will congratulate winners of the 2015 Cream of the Crop Photo Contest on Tuesday, August 18, at a reception in the Illinois Department of Agriculture tent at the Illinois State Fair.
“Congratulations to the ‘Cream of the Crop’ photo contest winners for capturing the beauty of our great state through the lens of the camera,” Frerichs said. “Growing up in the small farming community of Gifford, Illinois, I take pride in our state’s rich agriculture and look forward to acknowledging the great work of these young photographers.”
Winning photos are included in the 2015-2016 Ag Invest Calendar and on display at the Illinois State Treasurer’s tent at the Illinois State Fair and will later be on display at the DuQuoin State Fair in DuQuoin. The Cream of the Crop photo contest allowed students age 8-18 to send in their best depiction of agriculture as seen through their cameras lens. A winner was chosen from each age category 8-10, 11- invest/contest-winners.aspx.
The Cream of the Crop Photo Contest is part of the Ag Invest Program. The Treasurer’s office, through Ag Invest, partners with eligible lenders to offer farmers low-interest loans for operating expenses, equipment purchases, livestock purchases, and construction related expenses. More than 550 loans currently draw from an available $68 million, making Ag Invest one of the nation’s most successful linked deposit programs. The program was established in 1983 and has given out over $1 billion in loans over its history. To learn more about the Ag Invest program and what types of loans are available, visit
About the Illinois Treasurer The Illinois Treasurer is the state’s Chief Investment Officer and Frerichs is a Certified Public Finance Officer. He protects consumers by encouraging savings plans for college or trade school, increasing financial education among all ages, and removing barriers to a secured retirement. As the state’s Chief Investment Officer, he actively manages approximately $25 billion. Currently, the portfolio includes $13 billion in state funds, $7 billion in college savings plans and $5 billion on behalf of local and state governments. The investment approach is cautious to ensure the preservation of principal and returns $28 to the state for every $1 spent in operations. The Treasurer’s office predates Illinois’ incorporation in 1818. Voters in 1848 chose to make it an elected office.