CAMDEN – U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), co-chair of the Senate Chicken Caucus and member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, received the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Friend of Farm Bureau Award during a ceremony at the Delaware State Farm Bureau. [caption id="attachment_205995" align="aligncenter" width="876"] U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) receives the national Friend of Farm Bureau Award from President Richard Wilkins of the Delaware State Farm Bureau during a ceremony in Camden, Del., Nov. 23, 2020. | PHOTO BY BRENDAN MACKIE[/caption] President Richard Wilkins of the DSFB presented Coons with the national-level award, which honors members of Congress who work to advance policies supporting agriculture and farmers. “Delaware agriculture plays a critical role in our state’s economy and helps to keep food on the tables of American families across the country,” Senator Coons said in a statement. “Finding ways to support our hardworking farmers is one of my top priorities. I’m honored to receive this award and will continue using my position in the Senate to advocate for agriculture and Delaware farmers, especially during this difficult time.” As Senate Chicken Caucus co-chair, Coons has led the bipartisan effort to secure federal assistance for contract poultry growers hurt by the coronavirus pandemic. Coons also uses his position on the Senate Appropriations Committee to secure funding for vital agriculture, rural development, and environmental priorities, including support for the poultry industry, agricultural research, farm conservation, and rural housing programs in the appropriations bills for the fiscal year 2021. For more photos of the ceremony, visit https://bit.ly/3nRkv14.