The deadline to submit Master Farmer applications for the class of 2011 has been extended to Sept. 30.

Since the program was brought back in 1968, Prairie Farmer has awarded 170 men the title of Master Farmer. The Master Farmer program was created in 1925 to recognize not only excellence in farming, but also good stewardship within the community. These farmers continually exemplify innovative farming, while upholding the honorable values of generations past.

The 2010 Class of Master Farmers, from left: Jamie Willrett, Terry Pope, Garry Niemeyer and Ray Defenbaugh.

The first class of 23 Master Farmers was inducted at a formal banquet in Chicago. Today, Master Farmers are nominated either by themselves or their peers - folks who looked around their community and saw someone who should be recognized for a job well done and a life well lived.

While the Master Farmer program continues to thrive, there are 38 counties that have not produced a Master Farmer since 1968. With the induction of Terry Pope, Hancock County can now be taken of this list.

Those counties are: Boone, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Clay, Crawford, Du Page, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Lake, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Mercer, Monroe, Piatt, Pope, Putnam, Schulyer, Scott, Shelby, Stark, Wabash, Wayne, Whiteside, Will, Williamson, and Winnebago.

With the induction of 2010's Jamie Willrett, DeKalb County has now produced 16 Master Farmers. Knox and Champaign have produced 10 and nine, respectively.

Help put your county on the list by nominating someone for the award. The nomination form can be found on the Prairie Farmer Web site. 

Remember, nominations are due Sept. 30, 2010.