Who are Illinois corn farmers?
One of our priorities is to help non-farmers understand who you are and what you do. We’ve focused quite a few our efforts in Chicago, knowing from research that consumers in Chicago are particularly disengaged from the agriculture going on downstate and that their votes impact your farms and families.
For a general overview of the outreach that we’re involved in, check out the following programs:
Illinois Farm Families: IL Corn provides this program in coalition with IL Beef, IL Milk, IL Pork, IL Soybean Associations, and the IL Farm Bureau to talk with Chicago moms and give them on-farm experiences.
Illinois Runs on HomeGrown Corn: This program gives non-farmers the opportunity to “visit” a farm using the newest technology! We’re using virtual reality viewers and 360-degree filming technology to produce on-farm videos throughout the growing season.
CornBelters: IL Corn tests messages locally and attempts to change opinions in our own college town of Normal, IL by working with the Normal CornBelters.
U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Association: Through the National Corn Growers Association, IL Corn participates in this national collaborative, bringing factual information about agriculture to anyone who wants to know more. This partnership also brought you the documentary, Farmland.
Kay Shipman: Media Award Recipient
The IL Corn Growers Association’s 2023 Excellence in Media Award was given to Kay Shipman, formerly a writer for Illinois Farm Bureau’s FarmWeek, at the ICGA Annual Meeting today in Bloomington....
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Paving a Path for Policy
A selfie in front of the White House during her internship with the IL Corn Growers Association solidified a career path in Kylie Bohman’s mind. Bohman’s trip with the organization in 2017...
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Governor J.B Pritzker Talks with Commodity Groups at Farm Progress Show
Cameras, carts and security details created quite a buzz at the commodity tent IL Corn Growers Association members spoke with Governor Pritzker at Farm Progress Show about policy impacting...
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Discovering Illinois Family Farms: Chicago Social Media Creators Learn about Animal Welfare, Sustainability, and Innovation
This summer, a group of Chicago-based social media creators embarked on an eye-opening journey to three Illinois family farms in Kane County, gaining insights into the practices that make them...
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Corn & Soybean Farmers Can Experience “Fueling Progress” During Farm Progress Show
IL Corn and the Illinois Soybean Association are proud to showcase all the ways they are “Fueling Progress” during the Farm Progress Show, August 29-31 in Decatur, IL at Lot 605. The shared...
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7 IL Farmers Share Best and Worst Decisions Made
"Hard to answer because hindsight is 20/20. What might look like a good or bad decision at first might turn out the opposite later. For example, I bought a farm in 1980 that’s value dropped in...
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IL Corn Internships Deliver Invaluable Skills and Insights to the Next Generation
IL Corn offers a summer intern program, Brianna Croft and Emily Bruch joined the small team by assisting the legislative, communications and marketing departments. Through real world...
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3 Tips for Transition from Summer on the Farm to School
It seems like summer just gets started, then we hit the 4th of July and suddenly summer is on a rapid race to the finish line. While not having to make the 30 mile roundtrip for drop-off and...
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From Planting to Harvest - A Corn Journey
Share a new resource with your non-farmer friends, in the classroom or just for fun anywhere! Tag us if you share on social media @ilcorn.
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20 Movies You May Not Know Have Illinois Corn in Them
Field of Dreams (1989) - The entire film revolves around an Iowa cornfield, but some scenes were shot in Illinois corn fields as well in DuPage and Will County. Children of the Corn (1984) -...
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IL Corn Empowers Teachers with Corn 101 Knowledge for Summer Institute Ag in the Classroom
IL Corn is delighted to announce the successful culmination of its summer intern project with Illinois Ag in the Classroom, where interns passionately shared Corn 101 knowledge with teachers...
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Weinzierl Wins Award
The 2023 Rail & Maritime Summit, a prominent event that unites distinguished professionals from the rail and maritime sectors, has proudly presented the esteemed Diolkos Award to Rod Weinzierl,...
MoreIL Corn Growers Association Board of Directors Elections Open
Each year five directors are elected to a three-year term in districts throughout Illinois and two at-large directors are elected for a one-year term to represent farmers all over the state....
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Meet the First and Second Place IL T-shirt Contest Winners
If you missed it, IL Corn put on a t-shirt contest in April boosting creativity while showing the love of farming throughout the state. Get to know the winners: First Place: Jordan...
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IL Corn Sponsors 2023 Competition for Illinois’ Best Whiskey
Craft distilleries in Illinois will once again compete for top honors at a national whiskey tasting competition sponsored by IL Corn Marketing Board. The 2023 Heartland Whiskey Competition is the...
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IL Corn Announces Scholarship Recipients
Five scholarships will be awarded from IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) this year. Included with the scholarship, recipients will also get a free one-year ICGA membership. “We are thrilled...
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We are 96% Campaign Launches Phase Two
The statewide “We are the 96%” campaign launched phase two this past week, with TV ads, radio ads, and digital ads hitting screens all over Illinois. The paid portion of the campaign runs April 1...
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A Much Needed Force
The farmers that power Illinois' economy Agriculture is a driving force behind Illinois’s economy, with 75 percent of Illinois’ land area being managed by Illinois farmers. The United...
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This Decision at the Pump Could Change Everything
There has never been a better time to choose unleaded 88 unleaded 15, or E15 fuel at the pump. Gas pumps aren’t unlike grocery stores, offering an abundance of choices – some of which you may...
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IL Corn’s roots run deep in Illinois Association FFA
IL Corn positions farmers to create and capture profit opportunities, preserve their independence, and prosper for generations. There’s one overarching investment that never disappoints, and that...
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