Meet our 2023 Winners

While it was difficult to pick from all the impressive and inspiring nominations, some farmers’ stories just stood out. These men and women are truly leading new legacies in Illinois agriculture, inspiring this generation and the next with their on-farm success, community leadership and tremendous potential.

Adam Holste
ALTAMONT, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT AND CATTLE

Austin O’Neall
LE ROY, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT AND ALFALFA HAY

Cassandra Schleich
MONMOUTH, IL
CATTLE

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

Cody White
CLINTON, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

Daniel Elmer Grebner
METAMORA, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, HAY AND CATTLE

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

Erick Kane
OTTAWA, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS, SPECIALITY CROPS, FISH, POULTRY AND AGRITOURISM

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

Jarod Stock
BEARDSTOWN, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS AND SEED CORN

Jeffrey Landers
MENDOTA, IL
CORN, SOYBEANS AND CATTLE

Justin Rahn
MOUNT CARROLL, IL  
CORN, SOYBEANS, ALFALFA, WHEAT, OATS, RYE AND CATTLE 

Kate Huffman
GALVA, IL
CORN AND SOYBEANS

Kayla Gallagher
MANSFIELD, IL  
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, COVER CROPS, HAY AND CATTLE 

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

Rosalie Trump
CLARE, IL 
CATTLE AND PORK

Seth Lambert
MACOMB, IL 
CORN AND SOYBEANS

Thomas Titus
ELKHART, IL 
CORN, SOYBEANS AND PORK

Thomas Weger
FLAT ROCK, ILLINOIS
CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT AND CATTLE

William Patrick McDonnell
OTTAWA, IL 
CORN AND SOYBEANS

  

Leading New Legacies

From a corn and soybean farmer in Clinton to a pork farmer in Clare, there was no shortage of variety among our 2023 winners. They’re upholding traditions, starting their own and helping their neighbors out along the way. Young farmers of all specialties are our future, and no state’s future in agriculture is brighter than that of Illinois. We’re proud to champion our own.

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