SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — For the second year in a row, Republican Governor Bruce Rauner has proposed eliminating state funding for agriculture education in Illinois schools.

More than 1,000 FFA members were at the statehouse Tuesday meeting with legislators and fighting for funding. Without that funding, Ag education leaders say, important programs will be eliminated.

In recent years, state funding has been whittled down to just $1.8 million from the board of education’s recommended $3 million.

Now Rauner wants to eliminate funding altogether.

Illinois FFA says zero funding would force it to also eliminate the Ag in the classroom program, and curriculum resources and professional development opportunities for teachers.