Congratulations Taylor and Hartman, 2021 Master Farmers

September 2, 2021
A man with glasses is sitting at a table with a woman standing behind him.

Paul Taylor of Esmond and Kenneth Hartman of Waterloo are former and current IL Corn farmer leaders being named 2021 Master Farmers this week at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, IL. IL Corn congratulates them on the honor.

 

Kenneth Hartman represented farmers in southern Illinois on the IL Corn Marketing Board from 1997 to 2006 and later on the IL Corn Growers Association Board of Directors from 2008 to 2017. Hartman currently sits on the National Corn Growers Association Board of Directors and has served in that role since 2017.

Paul Taylor served on the IL Corn Growers Association Board of Directors from 2006 to 2015, serving as the association’s president in 2013. Additionally, Taylor represented farmers on the National Corn Growers Association Board of Directors from 2013 to 2017.

 

Taylor and Hartman have also led the association in other capacities, from testifying in Washington, DC to performing in consumer education campaigns. Both farmers are examples of what it means to show up for Illinois farmers and how to make an impact in your industry.

Justin Moore headshot
By Tara Desmond July 23, 2025
Meet Justin Moore a staff member at IL Corn.
washington dc photo
By Lindsay Croke July 17, 2025
“If such language is included in the policy recommendations, it could significantly hamper the work of America’s farmers and raise prices on consumers without providing any additional layer of safety for the American public,” the letter said. “If the pesticides in the original report were to disappear completely, crop
FFA students at USDA
By Lyndi Allen July 17, 2025
IL Corn leaders met with lawmakers in Washington, D.C. to discuss key ag priorities like trade, conservation, ethanol, and lock and dam infrastructure, while mentoring the next generation of advocates from Illinois FFA.
corn
By Lydia Rogers July 14, 2025
Debunking Myths
headshot of Shelby Watson
By Tara Desmond July 14, 2025
We recently caught up with Shelby Watson following the announcement of her promotion to Director, The Americas & Allied Industry Programs at USAPEEC. In her expanded role, Shelby is taking on new responsibilities across Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.
Crops destroyed by storm
By Lyndi Allen July 10, 2025
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the new Supplemental Disaster Relief Program, providing assistance to farmers with crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024.
Show More