Three of our Illinois Corn Marketing Board (ICMB) members ended their term on July 31st.  We said thank you and not goodbye to them and are now starting to welcome three new board members:

• Steve Fourez, District 6 [Champaign, Ford, Iroquis and Vermillion Counties]
• Terry G. Smith, District 9 [Adams, Brown, Hancock, McDonough, Pike and Schuyler Counties]
• Daniel P. Meyer, District 12 [ Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar and Jasper Counties]

Over the next couple of weeks we will get to know them a bit better.

Here's a little bit about Steve Fourez:

Steve Fourez is a farmer in Fairmont, IL growing corn and soybeans.  Steve grew up on a farm, went to college at Purdue working various off farm jobs for 10 years and in 1987 had the chance to come home to operate the family farm.  A father of two, Steve and his wife Melinda do all of the farm work in Fairmont.  Their son, Jeremy lives on a farm where Melinda grew up near Kokomo, Indiana farming with his two sons (Alec and Wyatt).  Steve's daughter Katie lives and works near Fishers, Indiana.

What do you like about farming?

"The thing I like best about farming is that it is never the same and always challenging.  After 35 years I still have not seen that mythical "normal" year."

What made you interested in joining the Illinois Corn Marketing Board?

"I have always been interested in being active in farm organizations.  It is important to work towards making things better for the next generation.  My interest in IL Corn specifically probably comes from having spent a short time as the advisory member on the ICGA board representing the IAA."

If you could tell non-farmers one thing, what would it be?

"There are many things the general public needs to know about farming.  Our urban neighbors are becoming further and further removed from agriculture. Perhaps #1 would be that we are price takers not price setters.  I have heard it said that farming is the only business that sells our production at wholesale prices, pays for our inputs at retail prices, and pays the freight both ways!"

In his spare time, Steve enjoys traveling with his wife, Purdue sports and visiting historical sites particularly during the Civil Way era.

IL Corn is excited to have Steve's leadership and experience to join the Illinois Corn Marketing Board in making a difference for farmers in Illinois.

The Illinois Corn Marketing Board was established in 1982 to manage the voluntary checkoff investment that corn farmers in the state agreed to implement that year. The farmers that make up ICMB are elected by their peers to serve unpaid, three-year terms. The ICMB farmer leaders are tasked with developing and maintaining markets for corn which is Illinois' highest valued agricultural commodity.

Find out more about ICMB and the family farmers who contribute to the checkoff.