Thompson is ICMB new chair

Tim Thompson, a farmer from Franklin, Illinois was elected by his peers to serve as Chairman of IL Corn Marketing Board (ICMB) for the 2025 – 2026 term.

Tim Thompson farms corn and soybeans in Morgan County with his wife, Tami. Together, they raised two children, Timothy Jr. and Marleigh, and also welcomed a foreign exchange student, Maren, as part of their family. On his farm, Tim incorporates minimal- and no-till conservation practices to protect soil health.

Alongside farming, Tim serves as Regional Sales Manager for Valent USA in the Northeast. In his free time, he trains Labrador Retrievers, competes in American Kennel Club Performance Field Trials, and enjoys hunting and fishing.

Also elected to officer positions were Matt Raben (Carmi, IL) as Vice-Chairman, Terry Smith (Clayton, IL) as Treasurer and Dan Meyer (Tuscola, IL) as Secretary.

These ICMB farmer leaders strategically invest Illinois corn checkoff dollars to grow demand, create new markets, and foster understanding of corn farmers and the corn industry, which is Illinois’ highest valued agricultural commodity. 

The IL Corn Marketing Board was established in 1982 to manage the voluntary checkoff investment that corn farmers in the state agreed to implement that year. The farmers that make up ICMB are elected by their peers to serve unpaid, three-year terms.