View from the Cab: 20 under 40
By: Kent Casson
The first class of “20 Under 40” farmer award winners have been announced in Illinois.
Winners include various agricultural leaders, exceptional community citizens and role models for their generation and the next. From a beef farmer in Lawrenceville to a corn and soybean farmer in Viola, there was no shortage of variety.
“Young farmers are our future and no state’s future in agriculture is brighter than that of Illinois,” said a news release from the Illinois Soybean Association last week. “Illinois is brimming with farmers of all specialties who truly operate in a league all their own.”
Following a nomination window in the spring, judges sifted through more than 50 young farmer applications from across the state who were nominated for their efforts and activities to better their farming operations and communities.
“We are honored to have the opportunity to recognize exceptional Illinois young farmers in collaboration with the Illinois ag family,” said Rachel Peabody, director of communications for the Illinois Soybean Association.
ISA’s checkoff program had support from the following partner organizations: Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Corn, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association, Illinois Grain & Feed Association and Illinois Pork Producers. Corporate sponsors of the program included Busey Bank and John Deere.
Locally, a couple of the winners were from our own backyard in Paxton. Congratulations to Dallas Glazik and Michael Nelson for making the list. More on the 2022 Illinois “20 Under 40” award winners and the program can be found at the website www.il20under40.com.
Over 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois are represented by the Illinois Soybean Association checkoff and membership programs. The checkoff funds market development and utilization efforts while the membership program supports the government relations interests of Illinois soybean farmers at the local, state and national level through the Illinois Soybean Growers.
ISA upholds the interests of Illinois soybean producers through promotion, advocacy and education with the vision of becoming a market leader in sustainable soybean production and profitability. More information can be obtained from www.ilsoy.org and www.ilsoygrowers.com.
