Bunting receives corn award

DWIGHT – A longtime advocate of the state’s corn industry and a familiar name in local agriculture has received the most prestigious award from the Illinois Corn Grower’s Association.

Art Bunting received the World of Corn honor during the ICGA annual meeting in Normal held prior to the Farm Assets Conference.

“It feels pretty good. I’m sure glad they appreciate all we have done. If it wasn’t for the staff and all the help I had with members, I am sure it wouldn’t be possible,” Bunting said.

According to the organization, Bunting has served as a model for engaging farmers to fight for the industry. He joined the Livingston County Corn Growers board in the mid-1990s before joining the ICGA board where he was named president in 2008.

Bunting is proud of the efforts involving ethanol in past years. An ongoing topic has involved locks and dams.

“Hopefully now with the new president, we will get some cement poured,” Bunting added.

Bunting farms with his two brothers, Lee and Don, south of Dwight. The Buntings raise corn, soybeans and some wheat. Art joined the family farming operation in 1974. The brothers operate a tiling and trucking business as well.

Bunting calls ICGA a “great” organization. He mostly enjoyed visiting Springfield and Washington, D.C. to pass agriculture’s message onto legislators promoting corn, infrastructure and ethanol.