FARMER BUSINESS RECOGNITION CONTEST

Your Farm. Your Business. Your Hustle. Your Vote.

Illinois farmers are doing more than growing crops and raising livestock. They're building businesses, creating products, offering services and turning their ideas into something bigger and we want to spotlight them. Know an Illinois farmer with a great farm business or side hustle? Nominate them or nominate yourself! And then, it's up to you to help choose the winners.

How It Works

1. NOMINATE BY COMPLETING FORM ABOVE

Now through August 31 at 5 PM CST

Nominate an Illinois farmer with a farm business, side hustle or agricultural-related business.

You can nominate yourself or someone else.

We're looking for all kinds of businesses. Maybe it's:

• An agricultural drone business
• Cover crop services
• Selling eggs or other farm products
• Making whiskey or other corn-based products
• Livestock or direct-to-consumer sales
• Agritourism
• Farm-made products
• An agricultural service or business
• Or something completely different!

The more creative, the better.

2. GET FEATURED

September 2

We'll turn the nominations into social media posts and spotlight the businesses on IL Corn's social media channels.

Know someone who was nominated? Make sure they know!

3. GET YOUR VOTES

September 2–9

This is where you come in.

Share the IL Corn post featuring your business with your friends, family, customers and community and ask them to like or react to the official IL Corn post.

The businesses with the most likes/reactions will win!

4. WIN

1st Place — $500

2nd Place — $500

3rd Place- $100

All three winners will also be featured on the IL Corn website.

What Counts as a Farm Business?

We're looking for businesses connected to an Illinois farmer or farming operation — whether that's a traditional farm product, an agricultural service, a creative side hustle or something you started simply because you saw an opportunity. It doesn't have to involve corn.

Maybe corn is part of your business. Maybe your chickens eat corn. Maybe you provide services to other farmers. Or maybe your business has nothing to do with corn at all. We're interested in the people, ideas and businesses that make Illinois agriculture unique.

Ready to Nominate Someone?

Nominate yourself or an Illinois farmer you think deserves some attention!

Nomination deadline: August 31 at 5 PM CST

Social media voting: September 2–9

Important voting information: Only likes/reactions on the official IL Corn social media post featuring each nominated business will count toward the contest. Voting closes September 9 at 4PM CST.

Official Rules: No purchase necessary. Open to Illinois residents age 18 or older who are farmers or operate a business connected to an Illinois farming operation. Nominations must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. CST on August 31, 2026 and include the requested business information and photo. IL Corn will feature eligible nominees on its social media beginning September 2, 2026. Voting runs through September 9, 2026, and is based on qualifying likes/reactions on the official IL Corn social media posts. The businesses receiving the most qualifying likes/reactions will receive 1st place: $500 gift card; 2nd place: $500 gift card; 3rd place: $100 gift card, and all three winners will be featured on the IL Corn website. In the event of a tie, IL Corn will determine the winner by random drawing. IL Corn reserves the right to disqualify fraudulent or manipulated votes, verify eligibility, and modify or cancel the contest if necessary. By entering, participants grant IL Corn permission to use submitted names, photos and business information for contest and promotional purposes. This promotion is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Instagram or other social media platforms.