ISPFMRA elects officers

Daniel Legner will head up the 2018 Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers leadership team. New officers were elected during the organization’s annual meeting, held Feb. 8 in Champaign, Ill. Legner is a senior appraiser with Compeer Financial in Princeton. He received his Accredited Rural Appraiser designation from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers in 2005.

Other members of the leadership team include: President-elect Rob Woodrow, Farmland Solutions LLC, Sherman; Secretary-Treasurer Gary Schnitkey, University of Illinois, Champaign; Academic Vice President Maria Boerngen, Illinois State University, Normal; Vice President Seth Baker, Field Level Agriculture, Mount Zion; and Immediate Past President Eric Wilkinson, Hertz Farm Management, Kankakee.

Brandt builds new lab

Brandt completed construction of a new 2,000-square-foot formulations lab in Pleasant Plains, Ill. The new lab will serve as the production facility’s hub for new formulation development, testing and quality control.

“This expansion almost doubles our formulation space and capabilities in the U.S.,” says Brian Haschemeyer, director of discovery and innovation for Brandt. The new lab features an ICP-OES machine and nitrogen analyzer for full fertilizer analysis and heavy metal screening. A new high-performance liquid chromatography machine analyzes the presence and concentration of plant growth regulators, biostimulants, sugar derivatives, organic acids and chelates. The UV Vis dye analysis instrument screens the quality and concentration of dyes and colorants.

IDOA announces new Illinois State Fair manager

Carmi, Ill., native Luke Sailer was named the new division manager of fair and promotional services at the Illinois Department of Agriculture earlier this month. Sailer will oversee the Illinois State Fair, Du Quoin State Fair, and bureaus of Business Services, and County Fairs and Horse Racing.

“Luke’s management experience combined with his southern Illinois agricultural background makes for a winning combination when it comes to the management of state and county agricultural fairs,” says IDOA Director Raymond Poe. “His familiarity with non-fair events and the need to utilize these facilities throughout the year will also serve him well in this position.”

During his previous three years at the IDOA, Sailer served as the bureau chief of business services and the assistant Illinois State Fair manager under the previous division manager, Kevin Gordon.

“I’m very honored and excited for this opportunity,” Sailer says. “I have a passion for our state and county fairs, and want them to continue to grow and be successful. These fairs showcase our state’s No. 1 industry.”

The 2018 Illinois State Fair will be held Aug. 9-19 in Springfield, and the 2018 Du Quoin State Fair will take place Aug. 24-Sept. 3 in Du Quoin.