Register for 2022 BIF research symposium and convention

Are you ready to expand your beef industry knowledge and get away from the herd for a few days? The Beef Improvement Federation research symposium and convention may be for you! Registration is open, with early registration closing May 4. The event will occur June 1-4 in Las Cruces, N.M.

Here are some more details about the BIF symposium and convention:

For more information and online registration, visit the BIF website.

Step up as a soybean leader

Are you a soybean producer interested in more leadership opportunities? Consider a position as an American Soybean Association or Illinois Soybean Association board member.

ASA will accept applications for four director positions. ASA directors can serve a maximum of three, three-year terms; however, three of the four current directors are eligible for additional terms.

Online applications are due by July 15 at 4 p.m.

Are you eligible to apply for an ASA director position? Here are the requirements:

The ASA board seating will occur in December at the ASA meeting in St. Louis.

On the state level, ISA has opened applications to fill director positions in six districts:

District 3. Henderson, Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark, Warren, Whiteside counties
District 4. Bureau, Grundy, Kendall, LaSalle counties
District 6. Livingston, McLean, Woodford counties
District 8. Adams, Brown, Hancock, McDonough, Schuyler counties
District 15. Clinton, Madison, Monroe, St. Clair counties
District 18. Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, Williamson counties

ISA board members can serve three, three-year terms. Current directors in the six districts are all eligible for re-election. Elections will take place on July 7 at the University of Illinois county Extension offices within each district.

The following are eligibility requirements for the ISA board:

For individuals to be put on the ballot, applicants must complete and file a petition with the Illinois Department of Agriculture before May 15 at 5 p.m. The petition must include at least 250 signatures from qualified producers in the district where the applicant seeks office, or signatures from 5% of farmers within the district — whichever number is less.

For a petition, contact Dustin Scott, ISA operations director, at [email protected] or 309-808-3603.

Individuals can also run as a write-in candidate if they meet all eligibility requirements and submit a declaration of intent to IDOA before June 25 at 5 p.m. Email Rachel Hettrick at [email protected] for a form.

Apply for Illinois Veterinary Education Training program

Illinois Farm Bureau is once again offering a loan program known as the Illinois Veterinary Education Training (IVET) Program, which is designed to help large-animal veterinary students pay for vet school. Applications are due May 15.

The program offers low-interest loans of up to $40,000 to up to three veterinary students every year. Loans are paid to students over a two- to three-year period and are payable over five years following graduation. Plus, recipients of the IVET award will receive a $1,500 stipend during their fourth year of veterinary school to help offset clinical rotation expenses. Since 2005, the IVET Program has awarded over $510,000 to 26 veterinary students.

For more information or to apply online before May 15, visit the IFB website.

Richland Community College addresses ag teacher gap

Richland Community College recently announced members of the first-ever internship program for future agricultural educators, which will take place this year. Ag education organizations and the Illinois State Board of Education recognize this program as an effort to close the ag teacher shortage gap through recruitment and retention.

Throughout nine weeks in the summer of 2022, students will experience work-based learning and development of technical skills that they can carry on as agriculture educators in the future.

The following students are participants in this year’s program and are working to obtain a bachelor’s degree in ag education with desire to become a high school ag teacher and FFA advisor:

ISA selects 2022 ILSoyAdvisor Soy Envoy class

Recently, the Illinois Soybean Association selected six individuals as 2022 ILSoyAdvisor Soy Envoys to support Illinois soybean producers.

The Soy Envoys commit one year to providing information, advice and in-season updates through the ILSoyAdvisor blog to help Illinois producers increase yields and profits. This year’s Soy Envoys class includes certified crop advisers and a diverse range of agricultural professionals. The Illinois soybean checkoff program funds the Soy Envoys class.

Learn more about this year’s class:

Jeff Shaner, Sheldon, Ill. Shaner has served as in the agribusiness sector for over 30 years. Since 2001, he has been in his current role as the soybean product lead at AgVenture Seed Co. Shaner is also a past president of the soybean division of the American Seed Trade Association.

Kathryn Kamman, Momence, Ill. Kamman is a CCA and WinField United market development specialist. As a market development specialist, she advises retailers on agronomic practices to maximize yield and return on investment. Kamman farms alongside her husband and daughter, raising corn, soybeans and wheat.

Weston Olson, Peru, Ill. A BioLumic agronomist, Olson specializes in seed treatment, field trial maintenance, agronomic practice advisement and field trial data collection. Olson also manages a multigenerational farm in Bureau County.

Chelsea Harbach, Knoxville, Ill. Since 2019, Harbach has served as a University of Illinois Extension commercial agriculture educator. A lot of her interests trace back to the study and education of plant diseases, particularly in soybean production.

Brad Zimmerman, Groveland, Ill. Zimmerman is an agricultural consultant and Tazewell County farmer. His interests include plant nutrient uptake efficiency. Zimmerman also serves as a Tazewell County Soil and Water Conservation District director and a CCA, and is a part of the Precision Conservation Management program.

Ben Wiegmann, Nashville Ill. Wiegmann is a Beck’s agronomist where he emphasizes in advisement of agronomic practices, fertility, chemical and seed genetics to help farmers maximize yields and return on investment. He also is a CCA.