Colleen Callahan

Who is Colleen Callahan?

Colleen Callahan is an agribusiness news reporter and Illinois Director of USDA Rural Development. She was the Democratic nominee for Illinois' 18th congressional district in 2008.

Callahan grew up on a farm near Milford, Illinois and graduated as salutatorian from Milford Township High School in May 1969. After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1973, she moved to Peoria to work for WMBD until 2005. She was also the agribusiness reporter for WMBD-TV and WCIA from 1974 to 1997.

In 2003, she went on a study trip to Afghanistan and Iraq, paid for at her own expense, at the invitation of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. She started her own business, Colleen Callahan Communications, in 2003. At the beginning of 2003, she changed employers from WMBD in Peoria to WGFA in Watseka, Illinois; she has been agribusiness director at both stations.

In 2008, she ran for U.S. Representative for Illinois' 18th congressional district, a seat open by the retirement of Ray LaHood. She won the Democratic nomination, but lost the November 4 general election to Republican Aaron Schock, 59% to 38%, with 3% going to Sheldon Schafer.

On 13 June 2009, Callahan began work as United States Department of Agriculture Illinois State Director of Rural Development.