ISA honors Heartland faculty member

Heartland Community College Agriculture faculty Karen Corrigan has been recognized for leadership and expertise in the advancement of soybean production.

The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) has announced Karen Corrigan as the recipient of the 2026 Master Adviser Award.

Established in 2016, the Master Adviser Award highlights the critical role Certified Crop Advisers play in helping soybean farmers improve productivity, profitability, and stewardship. Corrigan is co-owner of McGillicuddy Corrigan Agronomics and an instructor at Heartland Community College. She has dedicated more than three decades to soybean production, management, and education.

Corrigan’s career in agronomy began with undergraduate weed science research at the University of Illinois from 1994 to 1997, followed by graduate research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison focused on herbicide systems in glyphosate-tolerant soybeans. Since 2003, she has been a Certified Crop Adviser, providing independent agronomic consulting through McGillicuddy Corrigan Agronomics, where she facilitates on-farm trials, develops herbicide and fertility programs, and advises farmers across Illinois and the Midwest.

Her expertise has directly influenced 15 peer groups spanning nine states, including five groups in Illinois. In addition to her consulting work, Corrigan continues to shape the next generation of agronomists and growers through her teaching role at Heartland Community College.

What sets Corrigan apart within the agricultural industry is her ability to bridge university-level research with practical, on-farm application. She has published peer-reviewed research on weed management in soybeans and consistently translates scientific findings into actionable recommendations for farmers. Her leadership as an Illinois Soy Envoy in 2023 and 2024 further amplified her impact through blogs, videos, event presentations and in-season podcasts designed to deliver timely agronomic information to Illinois soybean farmers.

At the state and national levels, Corrigan has served on the College of ACES Alumni Board as the Crop Sciences Department representative, is a University of Illinois Master Gardener volunteer, has judged the Prairie Farmer Master Farmer program, and currently serves as chair of the Illinois Certified Crop Adviser Board. She also serves as vice chair of the International Certified Crop Adviser Board.