2026 GROW Spotlight: Makenna Frantz

Meet Makenna Frantz, a sixth-generation farmer in Arthur, IL, and a 2026 GR.O.W (Grassroots Orientation to Washington, DC) participant. Makenna is head of the agronomy division, making input-buying decisions, managing soil fertility & sustainability, and leading the crop scouting efforts.

Get to know the Heritage Family Farms operation and Makenna’s GROW experience.

Q: Why is being an ICGA member important?

A: It’s easy to only focus on your day-to-day and your own operation and let talking to your congressman slip. But keeping farmer interests at the forefront of their mind is important. It’s the members' seat at the table to voice their opinion that makes a difference. It’s eye-opening and mind-blowing to see IL Corn’s connections and relationships in Washington D.C. and Springfield.

Q: How did you first hear about the GROW program, and what made you want to apply?

A: I had an interest in policy, but hadn’t been directly involved much since high school in FFA and 4-H. A volunteer IL Corn board director had passed along the information to me and It was a great opportunity to step back in as I have now started my lifelong career in agriculture. 

Q: Did you have any preconceptions about lobbying or policy work going in? Were you nervous, skeptical, or excited?

A:  I was excited. I had stepping stones by being around it with my parents. I was excited to sit in on meetings and be a part of the conversation. It’s easy to fall into and get caught up in the social media content. It was eye-opening to see common ground for farmers on both sides of the aisle. The different perspectives on bills, like E15, and how they think about them differently were interesting.

Q: Was there a specific issue that you found most interesting?

A: In the group I was in, we talked mostly about trade and ethanol as we went to different embassies. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is very important right now. I also learned that ethanol is a big market for corn farmers.

Q: Did GROW change how you see your responsibility as a farmer when it comes to policy and advocacy?

A: I want to continue to be more involved. I appreciate seeing how IL Corn's advocacy system messages are used and why they matter. It’s easy to ignore or “hitting delete,” but I was able to see firsthand the impact they make. Using your voice makes a difference.

Whether Makenna is making input decisions, managing soil fertility and sustainability, or scouting crops, she brings the mindset of using her voice when farmer-led advocacy is needed. Apply to be a part of the 2027 GROW program when applications open in September.