Thursday, August 28

Kenneth Hartman Jr.
President, National Corn Growers Association

Kenneth Hartman Jr. is the current president of the National Corn Growers Association. A fifth-generation farmer from Waterloo, Illinois, he grows corn and soybeans with his family while advocating for the industry through NCGA and partner organizations. Hartman serves on multiple national ag committees and was honored as a Prairie Farmer Master Farmer in 2021. He is a former president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association and a longtime advocate for market access, renewable fuels, and precision ag technologies.

Collin Cisco
Farm Policy Manager, Illinois Soybean Association

Collin Cisco is the Farm Policy Manager for the Illinois Soybean Association.

Julie Hewitt
Executive Director, Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council (NREC)

Julie Hewitt has served as Executive Director of Illinois NREC since 2015. With a degree in AgBusiness from Illinois State University, her background includes agronomy, marketing, and public relations. Julie focuses on advancing nutrient efficiency research and communicating actionable results to Illinois farmers and ag professionals. Her leadership has helped bridge research outcomes with practical on-farm applications.

Dr. Laura Gentry
Director of Water Quality Science, IL Corn

Dr. Laura Gentry leads IL Corn’s efforts to improve water quality and nutrient management in agriculture. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois and formerly a research professor focusing on sustainable corn systems, reduced tillage, and bioenergy crops. Laura earned her Ph.D. studying the impact of tillage and organic amendments on nutrient cycling and previously served as a faculty member at North Dakota State University.

Darby Danzl
Regional Technical Agronomist, Illinois Soybean Association

Darby Danzl is the Regional Technical Agronomist for the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA). In her role, she contributes to on-farm trials, outreach efforts and NRCS partnership responsibilities. Darby holds a B.S. in Environmental Economics and Policy, a minor in Horticulture, and an M.S. in Crop Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her graduate research at the Crop Physiology Laboratory involved small-plot research with a focus on soil health and regenerative agricultural practices. She is passionate about advancing agricultural sustainability using science-based practices that improve soil health, increase resource efficiency, and boost long-term productivity.

David Kubik
Biofuels & Trade Policy Manager, Illinois Soybean Association

David Kubik is the Biofuels & Trade Policy Manager for the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA). He earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Illinois at Springfield and a Bachelor of Science in Politics and Government from Illinois State University. In his former role as Communications Specialist for Ithe llinois House of Representatives, Kubik managed and executed communications and outreach for Illinois House of Representative members. Kubik also served as a campaign manager in hotly contested legislative districts during 2016, 2018, and 2020 election cycles. Since coming to the Illinois Soybean Association in 2021, Kubik spearheaded the B20 initiative, which led to the passage of legislation extending the biodiesel sales tax exemption for blends over 10% and increasing those blends up to 20%. As a result, the Illinois Soybean Association received the 2022 Leadership Award from the Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation.

Eric Woodie
Trade Analyst, Illinois Soybean Association

Eric Woodie serves as Trade Analyst on behalf of the Illinois Soybean Association. Through the ISA checkoff program, he focuses on generating more demand destination markets and strengthening relationships with current trading partners. He also provides market-specific insights and background to both domestic and international organizations.

Woodie began his agricultural career as a grain trader & exporter. His background in international trade, marketing and global logistics allows him to make continued expansion of Illinois soy exports possible. Throughout his career, he’s worked closely with every link in the supply chain—from farmer leaders and processors to exporters and end users—assisting each make smart, timely decisions in a constantly shifting global landscape.