ICGA Announces Leadership Change

January 20, 2022
Four men in suits and shirts are standing next to each other in a room.

Today, the IL Corn Growers Association named Matt Rush, a Fairfield, IL farmer, the new Vice President of the association. Rush will serve until November 2022 after Terry Smith of Clayton, IL was unable to complete his term as Vice President. “We’re thrilled to have Matt step in as Vice President, says Marty Marr, ICGA President, “We will benefit from his leadership and strategic thinking skills.”
 

During his six-year tenure on the ICGA Board of Directors, Smith served as Industrial Committee Chair, Exports Committee Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. He also served a term on the Market Development Action Team for the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) from 2020-2021 and the NCGA Feed, Food and Industrial Action team in 2019. The association is extremely grateful for Smith’s contribution to Illinois corn farmers, specifically his extensive knowledge of ethanol issues and thanks him for his service.

The shift caused other leadership changes for the association. Don Guinnip of Marshall steps up as Chair of the Industrial Committee, Kate Danner of Aledo will serve as Chair of the Exports Committee and Dave Rylander of Victoria will serve as Chair of the Grassroots Committee. Joe Murphy of Harrisburg will remain Secretary and Mark Bunselmeyer of Maroa will remain Treasurer.

 

ICGA is left with a vacancy in District 9, serving farmers in Adams, Brown, Hancock, McDonough, Pike, and Schuyler Counties. Members who are interested in serving on the IL Corn Growers Association Board from one of these counties can express their interest by calling or emailing the IL Corn office at 309-846-6622 or kgallagher@ilcorn.org. 

Pictured above from left to right. Mark Bunselmeyer, Marty Marr, Matt Rush, Joe Murphy.

Green combine harvester in a harvested field under a cloudy sky
By Lyndi Allen • September 23, 2026
Illinois farmers saw their earnings improve in 2025, but the latest data shows that farm profitability remains well below recent averages.
Dolly Parton Maze from All Seasons Orchard
By Tara Desmond • September 22, 2026
A Woodstock, IL farm's Dolly Parton corn maze is one of 18 nationwide honoring the icon and benefiting her Imagination Library literacy program.
farmer next to engine with headphones on
By Tamara H. Thompson • September 22, 2026
Untreated hearing loss strains and shrinks the brain and drives social isolation, raising the risk of dementia but early treatment with hearing aids or other devices can help protect against it.
Steve Fourez
By Tara Desmond • September 22, 2026
A farmer's stroke went unnoticed until family and coworkers insisted he get help. His Safety Week story on why every minute matters
Sen. Celina Villenueva, Chris Gould, Orlando Rojas, Ambassador Reyna Torres
By Lyndi Allen • September 18, 2026
IL Corn joined partners and community leaders highlight the role of the Latino community in Illinois agriculture and labor.
Tugboat pushing a barge along a river at sunset, with a bridge in the background.
By Lyndi Allen • September 17, 2026
The House of Representatives took an important step towards strengthening the nation’s inland waterways by passing the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026
Show More