National Corn Growers Association has been doing a photo contest for the past 9 years and IL Corn is thrilled to congratulate this year’s Illinois farmer winners. With eight different photo categories, here is a glimpse of the Illinois winners:

Category: Conservation

1^st place: Taylor Bernhard

Photo: Cover Crop for Conservation

Taylor is a teacher and a farm wife in Sugar Grove, IL who enjoys the outdoors and photography.

Category: Conservation

2^nd place: Jake Collins

Photo: Little Doe on the Prairie

Jake grew up in the small town of Mt. Zion, attended Northwestern University, and is currently a research scientist. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, photography and gardening. 

Category: Corn

3^rd place: Dave Peters

Photo: Catch

Dave farms with his wife in Manteno, IL and he loves photography.  The picture he submitted for the contest was his daughter Katelyn and her fiancée, CJ. They wanted some engagement pictures and this shot was one on a whim.  Dave serves on the Compeer Financial board of directors and one of the initiatives they are involved in is “Rural Vitality.” “It’s great to see these kinds of contests that really capture the beauty and blessings of the rural lifestyle,” said Dave.

Category: Equipment

1^st place: Todd Wachtel

Photo: 130th Crop off the Home Centennial Farm

Todd Wachtel is a 5th generation corn and soybean farmer in south central Illinois. “I am thankful for the technology that lets me “document” our current farming practices and wish my ancestors would have had the same opportunity,” says Todd.