Just as the green dome of Pennsylvaniaâs Capitol is a fixture of the Harrisburg skyline, Vince Phillips has been a fixture under that dome for years as one of the stateâs top agriculture lobbyists.
Phillips retired at the end of 2020, capping a 31-year career in which he helped advance rural broadband for the Pennsylvania State Grange and pushed for legislative changes that were sometimes small but nonetheless valuable to farmers.
Phillips, a mustachioed resident of Mechanicsburg, believes that his often-maligned profession is a key part of civic engagement.
âIn order to really make a difference, you have to advocate something to the people who have the power to change things,â he said.