Members of the Illinois Farm Bureau convened in Chicago Dec. 3-6 for the organization's annual meeting, welcoming nearly 2,000 farmers, staff and guests to the Windy City.

Among the speakers and events, 347 voting delegates met to discuss and debate policy changes for the organization. Delegates considered more than 40 policy submissions from the counties.

Each of the 18 IFB districts met for meetings and elections, where Mark Reichert of Sangamon County was elected to represent District 10 and Steven Fourez of Vermilion County was elected to represent District 12.

Read on for a look at contest and award winners, speakers, and what the governor had to say about it all!

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DEBATE: Delegates to the Illinois Farm Bureau convention debated policy on more than 40 submissions from the counties.

Gov. Bruce Rauner stopped in during the delegate session at the IFB meeting, thanking farmers for being “the backbone” of the Illinois economy.

“If it wasn’t for you and your hard work, we would’ve been completely lost,” he added.

Rauner addressed the budget crisis and House Speaker Mike Madigan’s recent lawsuit demanding the comptroller’s office pay legislators. The lawsuit was supported by Democrats and filed against outgoing comptroller Leslie Munger on her last day in office.

“If anybody thinks all we need to do is raise taxes to solve the problem, they’re hallucinating," Rauner said. "We need structural change. Government spending has to come down. This isn’t rocket science. It’s hard. The system is broken, and it’s very entrenched, but we’re gonna change it.”

Rauner pointed to four steps that he believes need to happen to improve Illinois. “We need a balanced budget — truly balanced — with reforms to grow more jobs, lower property taxes, invest and improve schools, and put term limits on our elected officials. Those are the four things we need to do.”

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During his address of the membership, Illinois Farm Bureau President Rich Guebert called on the state government for action: “Gov. Rauner and the Illinois General Assembly: Pass a budget and outline a course of action to move our state forward.”

Guebert said IFB is also collecting names and resumes of farmer-leaders who might be interested in any of the federal appointments through the Trump administration, at either the state or national levels, at the request of various legislators. They are filtering those names through Rep. John Shimkus’ office.

IFB and the American Farm Bureau Federation have put their push for the Trans-Pacific Partnership on hold until the Trump administration gets appointees in place and the inauguration has taken place. “Then be prepared to jump and go,” Guebert said. “It’s upsetting to me how legislators say they support free trade but not this particular trade deal.”

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IFB President Rich Guebert with Don and Carolyn Moffitt

IFB President Rich Guebert with John and Joan Sullivan

Illinois Farm Bureau’s highest award, the Charles B. Schuman Distinguished Service Award, went to two legislators this year, Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Oneida, and Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville. Moffitt and Sullivan are each retiring from the Legislature in January.

Moffitt is known for his work on passing the Illinois Livestock Management Facilities Act, and has fought for local police and fire districts. In his 23 years in the General Assembly, he’s become known as a voice of reason and explanation on agricultural issues. Before serving in the Legislature, he was elected to several Knox County positions.  

Sullivan has served in the Senate since 2002. As chairman of the Agriculture Committee, he helped appropriate monies for ag programs and has fought for the state sales tax exemption for farmers. With his farming and auctioneering background in Schuyler County, Sullivan is also known as the go-to person in the Senate for agricultural issues, and noted that getting a call about the award from IFB President Rich Guebert — as both he and Guebert were in combines this fall — was a highlight of his career.

“I do have one regret in that I’m leaving in January, and it doesn’t look like we’ll get a long-term budget solution in that time,” Sullivan said.

 “We really are friends,” Moffitt, a Republican, joked of his relationship with Sullivan, a Democrat. “Republicans, Democrats, look at that. We can get along and work together!”

(Photos: Cyndi Wiggs, Illinois Farm Bureau photographer)

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Kelly Robertson (pictured with IFB President Rich Guebert) received the 2016 Illinois Certified Crop Adviser Award. Robertson is a farmer and CCA from Benton in Franklin County, and a trusted source of agronomic information for farmers and ag media. He runs Precision Crop Services and works with farmers on more than 50,000 acres annually.

Robertson was an early adopter of precision agriculture technology. “Being a farmer himself, he understands that there has to be a real-world application that goes along with the science of agronomy,” said Franklin County Farm Bureau President Leon McClerren in his nomination of Robertson. “This allows him to understand and blend agronomic and environmental concerns into the needs of the customer. He always proposes unique solutions to his customers, because each one has a different management style.”

Robertson will also be considered for an international award by the Illinois Certified Crop Adviser Board and the Illinois Farm Bureau.

(Photo: Cyndi Wiggs, Illinois Farm Bureau photographer)

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Lynn Doran, Champaign County, won the Young Leader Discussion Meet in her first time ever to compete in the contest. She bested 27 district winners to win the competition. Doran is pictured with Evan Hultine, chairman of the  Young Leader Committee, and IFB President Rich Guebert.

The discussion meet judges contestants’ ability to manage a small group discussion. Topics included immigration policy, natural resource management, data ownership, farm tax policy and food labels. Doran wins a Polaris ATV from Country Financial and IFB, and $2,500 from IFB. She’ll also travel to Phoenix to compete in the 2017 American Farm Bureau Federation contest.

“Having only lived in Illinois for the last two and a half years, the Young Leader program has opened doors for me on so many levels,” Doran said. “Most of my friends here in Illinois I’ve met through the Young Leader program. It’s structured, but there’s enough freedom to pursue any issue that you’re passionate about. There aren’t many places to find that kind of support network and that many opportunities.”

Megan Dwer, Coal Valley, was first runner-up.

(Photo: Catrina Rawson, Illinois Farm Bureau photographer)

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Grant and Kristen Strom, Knox County, are the 2016 Achievement Award winners. They were named during the Illinois State Fair to allow them time to prepare for the AFBF contest in January, but were recognized during the IFB annual meeting. They are pictured with their children and Evan Hultine, chairman of the IFB Young Leader Committee.

The Achievement Award recognizes young farmers and ranchers who have excelled in their farming or ranching operations and exhibited superior leadership abilities. Participants are evaluated on a combination of their agricultural operation’s growth and financial progress, Farm Bureau leadership, and leadership outside of Farm Bureau.

The Stroms receive 100 hours' use of a 200-hp Massey Ferguson tractor from Agco, $2,500 from IFB, and a trip to Phoenix to compete in the AFBF contest.

(Photo: Catrina Rawson, Illinois Farm Bureau photographer)

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Mark and Sara Mitchell, Grundy County, (with Evan Hultine, chairman of the IFB Young Leader Committee) were the 2016 Excellence in Agriculture Award winners. They, too, were named during the Illinois State Fair to allow them time to prepare for the AFBF contest in January, but were recognized during the IFB annual meeting.

The Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes young farmers and ranchers who do not derive the majority of their income from an agricultural operation, but who actively contribute and grow through their involvement in agriculture, their leadership ability, and their participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations.

The Mitchells receive $2,500 from IFB, a drone from IAA Credit Union and IFB, and a trip to Phoenix to compete in the AFBF contest.

(Photo: Catrina Rawson, Illinois Farm Bureau photographer)

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IFB President Rich Guebert with Bryan Roosevelt

IFB President Rich Guebert with Janet Noe

IFB President Rich Guebert with Glen and Judy Wright

IFB President Rich Guebert with Todd and Joann Wright

Bryan Roosevelt of Edwards County, Janet Noe of Woodford County, and the Glenn and Todd Wright families of Bureau County won the 2016 Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom Volunteer of the Year Award.  

Noe volunteers with her county’s Ag in the Classroom program. She’s well-known for her “Happy Meal” lesson where she shows students how every part of their lunch comes from agriculture. Noe also helps with driver's safety programs, teaching about farm equipment on the road.

Roosevelt helped start his county’s Ag in the Classroom program. He volunteers as a third-grade classroom presenter, allowing FFA students to shadow and work with him. He hosts teachers during summer ag institutes, and leads their adopted classroom program with Chicago teachers.  

Glenn and Todd Wright and their families have hosted 130 second- and third-graders from the Princeton School District annually for the last 10 years. They also volunteer with the fair and Conservation Days, and reach hundreds of students every year.

(Photos: Cyndi Wiggs, Illinois Farm Bureau photographer)