2025 20 Under 40 Farmer
About
Devin Aherin of Dieterich, Illinois, farms corn, soybeans, and cover crops across Effingham and Jasper counties while also working in farm and crop insurance to support other growers in his community. For Devin, leadership means leading by example – testing conservation practices on his own farm, advocating for soil health, and sharing ideas with his neighbors. He views Illinois agriculture as both a natural resource and the lifeblood of rural communities, sustained by some of the most productive soils in the world. Committed to progress, Devin focuses on conservation, precision technology, and small, daily improvements that build long-term sustainability. Inspired by his parents, grandparents, and the farmers he grew up watching, Devin now pays it forward by mentoring youth and serving on his local school board. He hopes to inspire the next generation by offering a simple piece of advice: “Bigger isn’t always better. Sometimes it’s better to tale a step back and ask ‘Where are we finding the most enjoyment?’, and ‘why do we do it at the end of the day?’”