A Gentleman, a Teacher, a Farmer: Remembering Ted Mottaz

IL Corn is mourning the loss of one of its most respected and beloved leaders. Ted Mottaz of Elmwood, Illinois, who served as president of the IL Corn Growers Association from 2018 to 2019 and as a board director for nine years, recently passed away after a life devoted to farming, education, conservation, and service.

To know Ted Mottaz was to know a man who never stopped teaching, whether he was standing in front of a classroom at ROWVA High School, walking the fields of his Knox County farm, or advocating for Illinois corn farmers in Washington, D.C.

“Ted was a gentleman and a teacher. Even when he wasn’t in a classroom, he was sharing knowledge and helping others learn,” said Bill Leigh, who served alongside Mottaz on the ICGA board and as his vice president. “I think Ted believed there was always something new to learn.”

A Life Built on Service

Mottaz graduated from Western Illinois University in 1970 with a degree in agricultural education before serving his country as a combat infantryman in Vietnam. He later earned a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and spent 32 years teaching agricultural education, including at ROWVA High School and Carl Sandburg College.

In 1983, he began farming alongside his father, brother, and grandfather before eventually becoming a full-time family farmer in Knox County. His farm became known for its strong commitment to conservation, including more than 25 years of no-till practices, drainage water management, and nutrient stewardship using the 4R system (Right Rate, Right Source, Right Time, Right Place). Mottaz had also been side-dressing corn since 1961 and later incorporated strip-till practices into the operation.

“I’m no different from other ICGA presidents,” Mottaz once said. “I just want to leave my farm and the association better than it was when it was handed to me.”

A Voice for Illinois Corn Farmers

Mottaz joined the ICGA board in 2012 and later rose to president, where he championed issues critical to Illinois agriculture, including ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, expanded market access for higher ethanol blends, and federal investment in locks and dams along Illinois waterways.

Rodney Weinzierl remembered Mottaz as a thoughtful leader whose integrity, easy-going demeanor, and steady leadership left a lasting impact on the organization.

“Ted represented the very best of Illinois agriculture,” Weinzierl said. “He was thoughtful, principled, and deeply respected by everyone who worked with him. Ted believed in bringing people together to solve problems and always focused on what was best for farmers and rural communities. His leadership helped strengthen IL Corn, and his legacy will continue to influence this organization for years to come.”

The Man Behind the Leader

Those who knew Mottaz best describe a man whose quiet demeanor hid a sharp and deeply principled mind. He was deliberate, careful in his decision-making, and unwavering in his values.

“You always knew where Ted stood,” Leigh said.

“He meant what he said. Your word was your bond and that’s how Ted lived.”

That steadiness showed itself in memorable ways. During a 2015 trip to Washington, D.C., Mottaz and Leigh found themselves in the middle of national news as Congressman Aaron Schock announced his resignation while the pair were meeting with congressional staff. As reporters crowded the hallways, Mottaz calmly offered a measured response that earned him a CNN interview and a brief moment in the national spotlight.

Vietnam, Honor, and Healing

Though Mottaz rarely spoke publicly about his service in Vietnam, those close to him knew how profoundly it shaped him. Friends recalled emotional moments during visits to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and later, his participation in an Honor Flight out of Peoria became an especially meaningful experience for him and his family.

“I think it gave him an opportunity to process things he had carried for a long time,” Leigh said. “It meant a lot to him and to his family.”

A Legacy That Lives On

Mottaz is survived by his wife, Janet; his son Phillip, daughter-in-law Rachel, and grandson Henry of Sun City, California; and his daughter Emily, son-in-law Joe, and grandchildren Anna, Josie, Amelia, Jack, Caroline, and Mary, who live on the family’s home farm in southern Knox County.

His brother Jeff, former students, fellow farmers, and countless community members continue to carry forward the lessons he shared throughout his life.

“He touched a lot of people,” Leigh reflected. “A good educator doesn’t just tell people what to do but they help people think and grow. That’s what Ted did.”

From the students he inspired in the classroom to the advocating for farmers in DC, Ted Mottaz lived by a simple principle: leave things better than you found them.

He did.

The IL Corn Growers Association extends its deepest condolences to the Mottaz family.