BATAVIA — Two new Fox Valley legislators last week gave each other a run for their money — with grocery carts.
First term Reps. Kay Hatcher, R-Yorkville, and Keith Farnham, D-Elgin, competed in the eighth annual Kane County Farm Bureau Shopping Spree at the Jewel-Osco in Batavia. In front of about 40 spectators the two were given five minutes to collect as many food items from the shelves as they could in grocery carts decorated with streamers, balloons and bicycle horns. The contest eventually purchased $2,121 worth of groceries to help families whose incomes fall far below the average. Since 2001, the shopping sprees have raised more than $11,000. The American Farm Bureau hosts Food Check-Out Week during the middle of February each year because by that week the average American has earned enough disposable income to pay for his or her food supply for the rest of the year. Each representative was given a team of volunteers from the Northern Illinois Food Bank. They followed the contestants with empty carts to replace ones filled with staples such as cereal, pasta, sauces and juice. A bag of Reese’s Pieces also made it into one of the carts.
Five senior cheerleaders from Batavia High School shouted, clapped and followed the representatives during their shopping spree.