Copy of Illinois Farm Families Facilitates Farmer-Nonfarmer Conversations During COVID-19

March 3, 2020
A group of people are posing for a picture in front of a window.

Five Illinois farmers will be honored as 2020 Master Farmers at Prairie Farmer magazine’s annual event March 19 in Springfield, Ill. The award recognizes exceptional agricultural production skills, commitment to family and service to community. IL Corn is excited to celebrate the award with three of it's current and former leaders, John Adams, Sue Adams, and Ted Mottaz.

 

Pictured L-R: Dale Hadden, Joe Pickrell, John Adams, Susan Adams, and Ted Mottaz

John and Susan Adams farm near Atlanta, IL and have been involved in IL Corn for many years. John served as the Illinois Corn Marketing Board District 8 Director for nine years, servining as the Chairman of the Board in 1999. Susan has served as leadership of the Zea Mays Board (the IL Corn Growers Association foundation), including as its President. Susan also currently represents IL Corn on the Council for Food and Ag Research, serving as the groups President. John and Susan also represented all corn farmers across the nation in a national ad campaign by the Corn Farmers Coalition which featured the couple on the farm. The ads were available online, all over Washington, DC and even in Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

 

Ted Mottaz farms in Elmwood, IL and is currently the Illinois Corn Growers Association immediate past president. During his tenure on our leadership team, Ted represented Illinois on various National Corn Growers Association action teams and committees, and traveled to Washington, DC multiple times to advocate for ICGA on current policy initiatives. Ted was also selected by his peers to represent the board on an international mission to Cuba.

 

IL Corn is proud of our long legacy of Master Farmers! Congratulations to John Adams, Sue Adams, and Ted Mottaz on their outstanding achievements!

thumbnail Mark Lambert
By Tara Desmond March 26, 2026
IL Corn's Mark Lambert reflects on decades of ag communications from stealing the office computer to Captain Corn and DC Metro takeovers.
Oliver
By Tara Desmond March 26, 2026
Marine veteran Oliver Kragelund lost his foot in a grain bin accident in Illinois. Now he's turning that tragedy into a mission for agricultural safety.
Evan Marr, Dan Parker, Don Guinnip, Tim Thompson, Marty Marr at Illinois Capitol
By Lyndi Allen March 26, 2026
The 56th Annual Illinois Agriculture Legislative Day was held on Tuesday, March 24. ICGA leaders attended the event, then met with eight key legislators to discuss IL Corn’s priorities.
A red tractor with a large sprayer attachment moves through a field of green corn plants on a cloudy day.
By Lyndi Allen March 26, 2026
Ag Groups Urge Action on Phosphate Fertilizer Duties Impacting Farmers, filed a letter with the Department of Commerce and the nation's two largest fertilizer producers
A hand reaches for a gas pump nozzle at a station with fuel grade buttons labeled 87, 89, and 91.
By Lyndi Allen March 26, 2026
The U.S. EPA announced on March 25, 2026, that it will use its existing authority to prevent drivers from losing access to lower-cost and lower-emission E15, a higher ethanol blend
NEWS release
By Lyndi Allen March 26, 2026
ICGA Statement on E15 Waiver
Show More