We’re recognizing the young leaders shaping Illinois agriculture.

Every community has them. Those young farmers who push boundaries in the field and beyond it. They lead with integrity, serve with purpose and understand that success isn’t just about yields, it’s about responsibility, sustainability and legacy.

Help us shine a light on them. Nominate yourself or someone you know by Sunday, May 31.

CHAMPION

FARMERS

The makings of an Illinois 20 under 40 farmer.

Get to know our past winners.

Outstanding work ethic. Forward thinkers. Community leaders. These are just some of the traits that describe our 20 Under 40 farmers. They’re stand outs in the field, inspiring both this generation and the next.

SYDNEE SHAFER

ARCOLA, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS 

2025

OLIVIA CHARLES

MOUNT CARROLL, IL
BEEF, HAY, SILAGE, AND ROW CROPS

2025

BLAKE EDWARDS

GRIDLEY, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS 

2025

ALEX JOHNS

TUSCOLA, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS 

2025

JEFF GREGG

CERRO GORDO, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

2025

MICHAEL BERNHARD

MAZON, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, PUMPKINS, AND FALL DECOR

2025

TONY STIERWALT

PESOTUM, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, AND WHEAT

2025

MATTHEW DESUTTER

WOODHULL, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

2025

LOGAN HILL

ALTAMONT, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, AND BEEF CATTLE

2025

ALI GIBBS

BENSON, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, CHICKENS, AND SHEEP

2025

BRENDAN SURPRENANT

MANTENO, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, AND BEEF COWS

2025

MICHAEL HOUSTON

GOLDEN, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

2025

CHRISTINE MIGLIORINI

GRANVILLE, IL
PRODUCE, PUMPKINS, CORN, AND SOYBEANS

2025

JOE MIGLIORINI

GRANVILLE, IL
PRODUCE, PUMPKINS, CORN, AND SOYBEANS

2025

TYLER DEAL

DANVERS, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

2025

JAELEIGH WALLER

LAWRENCEVILLE, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, BEEF CATTLE, SWINE, AND CHICKENS

2025

DEVIN AHERIN

DIETERICH, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

2025

TOM HILL 

MARSEILLES, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

2025

KRISTA SWANSON 

ONEIDA, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

2025

JAKE CALHOON

GOREVILLE, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, MILO, AND ANGUS CATTLE

2025

CODY BOOK

HARVARD, IL
BEEF CATTLE, CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, RYE AND HAY

2024

BRYCE BROCKELSBY

EDINBURG, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

2024

DAKOTA COWGER

PEOTONE, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, OATS, ALFALFA AND DAIRY CATTLE 

2024

HEATHER DOLLINGER

MAZON, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS AND PUMPKINS

2024

RHETT ELLIS

MT. VERNON, IL
GRAINS

2024

SHAY FOULK

SPARLAND, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, OATS AND COVER CROPS

2024

CLINT GORDEN

BLUE MOUND, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS AND WHEAT

2024

JONATHAN GRIFFEL

GILLESPIE, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT AND BEEF CATTLE

2024

DREW GROEZINGER

STOCKTON, IL
CUT FLOWERS AND SHRUBS

2024

ALEX HEAD

DECATUR, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, RYE, HAY, AND 500 COW-CALF PAIRS

2024

LENA HEAD

DECATUR, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, RYE, HAY, AND 500 COW-CALF PAIRS

2024

KAYLEE HEAP

MINOOKA, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, PUMPKINS, GOURDS, SQUASH, MUMS AND CUT FLOWERS

2024

MATHEW HEBERLING 

OWANECO, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, HAY AND CATTLE

2024

DANIEL HERRIOTT 

SIDNEY, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

2024

JOHN HOWELL

RED BUD, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, ALFALFA AND BEEF CATTLE

2024

COREY JOHNSON

PEOTONE, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, OATS, CEREAL RYE AND ALFALFA

2024

BLAKE LANPHIER 

LAKE VILLA, IL
HAY, CORN, PRODUCE, DAIRY CATTLE, POULTRY, SWINE AND SHEEP

2024

WYATT MCGREW

PRAIRIE CITY IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, OATS, HAY AND BELGIAN DRAFT HORSES 

2024

JENNA SEVERS

ARMSTRONG, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS AND CATTLE

2024

BENJAMIN WURMNEST 

STRAWN, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, AND COVER CROPS

2024

CHASE BROWN

WARRENSBURG, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, HAY AND CATTLE 

2023

KAYLA GALLAGHER

MANSFIELD, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, COVER CROPS AND CATTLE

2023

DANIEL GREBNER

METAMORA, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, HAY AND CATTLE

2023

ADAM HOLSTE

ALTAMONT, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT AND CATTLE

2023

KATE HUFFMAN

GALVA, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

2023

NIK JAKOBS

STERLING, IL
CATTLE, CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT AND HAY

2023

ERICK KANE

OTTAWA, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, SPECIALTY CROPS, FISH, POULTRY AND AGRITOURISM

2023

SETH LAMBERT

MAROA, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

2023

JEFFERY LANDERS

MENDOTA, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS AND CATTLE

2023

BILL MCDONNELL

OTTAWA, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

2023

AUSTIN O'NEALL

LE ROY, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, ALFALFA AND HAY

2023

JAKE PERINO

DEER GROVE, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, ALFALFA, COVER CROPS, SEED CROPS, SPECIALTY CROPS AND CATTLE

2023

ELLEN RAHN

MOUNT CARROLL, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, ALFALFA, COVER CROPS AND CATTLE

2023

JUSTIN RAHN

MOUNT CARROLL, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS ALFALFA, WHEAT, OATS, RYE, CATTLE

2023

CASSANDRA SCHLEICH 

MONMOUTH, IL
CATTLE

2023

JAROD STOCK

BEARDSTOWN, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS AND SEED CORN

2023

THOMAS TITUS

ELKHART, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS AND PORK

2023

ROSALIE TRUMP

CLARE, IL
CATTLE AND PORK

2023

THOMAS WEGER

FLAT ROCK, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT AND CATTLE

2023

CODY WHITE

CLINTON, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

2023

CHAD BELL

VIOLA, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT AND PIGS

2022

ANDREW BOWMAN

ONEIDA, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS AND POPCORN

2022

DREW DESUTTER

NEW WINDSOR, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, COW/CALF, GRASS HAY AND COVER CROPS

2022

MICHAEL GANSCHOW

WALNUT, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

2022

DALLAS GLAZIK

PAXTON, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, OATS AND OTHER SMALL GRAINS

2022

MATTHEW HULSIZER

GALESBURG, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS AND POPCORN

2022

SARAH M. TWEET-LANDERS

MENDOTA, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS AND BEEF CATTLE

2022

ANDY LENKAITIS

ST. CHARLES, IL
DAIRY, FEED CROPS AND COVER CROPS

2022

SARAH LENKAITIS

ST. CHARLES, IL
DAIRY, FEED CROPS AND COVER CROPS

2022

BLAKE LUCKETT

RIDGWAY, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

2022

CAMERON MCCLURE

LAWRENCEVILLE, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, HOGS AND CATTLE

2022

KATHRYN MENTZER

ASSUMPTION, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS AND WHEAT

2022

KENNETH MENTZER

ASSUMPTION, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS AND WHEAT

2022

DAVID MURPHY

TISKILWA, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

2022

MICHAEL D. NELSON

PAXTON, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

2022

BLANE OLSON

ELKHART, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, PUREBRED SHOW PIGS AND COMMERICAL PIGS

2022

AUSTIN B. RINCKER

MOWEAQUA, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, HAY AND ANGUS CATTLE

2022

MATT RUSH

FAIRFIELD, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT AND FEEDER CATTLE

2022

TYLER SCHLEICH

MONMOUTH, IL
CATTLE

2022

BRANDON WALTER

HARVARD, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, STEERS, DAIRY, ALFALFA, WHEAT AND RYE

2022