Illinois Farmers and Football Players: Growing Champions On and Off the Field

Tara Desmond
February 6, 2025

Super Bowl Sunday is more than just the biggest game of the year—it’s a showcase of skill, strategy, endurance, and dedication. In many ways, Illinois farmers and IL Corn share common ground with football players: both put in long hours, rely on teamwork, strategy, and take pride in their craft. And this year, as players take the field for Super Bowl LIX, they’ll be surrounded by something else that’s homegrown - corn.  

 

Corn is everywhere during the big game, even in ways you wouldn’t expect. From the fuel that gets fans to the stadium to the plastic in TV screens, corn is behind the scenes making Super Bowl Sunday possible.

 

Illinois Roots on the Super Bowl Stage

While no current Super Bowl LIX players were born in Illinois, the state has a deep legacy of producing top NFL talent. The University of Illinois has long been a training ground for future pros, with 21 former Fighting Illini active in the league in 2023. Illinois has also been home to legendary players throughout NFL history, proving that hard work and perseverance—whether on the field or on the farm—can lead to greatness.

A group of football players huddled together with the words did you miss il corn 's big plays for this year

Ready, Set, Corn! Finding Corn this Sunday

  • TV Screens & Stadium Seats
  • Watching the game on a high-definition screen? That sleek, durable plastic likely contains corn-based bioplastics, making your viewing experience sharper and more sustainable. Even some stadium seats are made with corn-based materials!
  • Getting to the Game
  • Whether you’re heading to a friend’s house or making the trek to the stadium, there’s a good chance your car is running on ethanol-blended fuel made from Illinois corn. Ethanol reduces emissions and keeps fuel prices stable, making it a win for both fans and farmers.
  • Game Day Snacks
  • Corn is the MVP of Super Bowl snacks! Popcorn, nachos, tortilla chips, and even the sweeteners in BBQ sauces and sodas all come from field corn. Without it, your snack spread wouldn’t be the same. Check out these recipes that may help feed the entire farm crew.
  • The Field Itself
  • Many artificial turf fields contain corn-based materials to make them safer and more durable. So when players hit the ground, they’re literally landing on a piece of American agriculture.

Whether it’s growing the food that fuels the fans or training for the biggest game of the year, Illinois farmers and football players know what it means to work hard and push through challenges. Both dedicate themselves to their craft, knowing that the work they do has an impact beyond their own cornfields in central Illinois or football fields under the bright lights of the Super Bowl.

Evan playing in dirt
By Tara Desmond September 22, 2025
Two year old Evan on the farm.
Jason at his farm in Manito
By Tara Desmond September 19, 2025
Jason Proehl isn’t just a fifth-generation farmer—he’s also an attorney who helps families protect their farms for the next generation.
Corn stalks in focus, with a combine harvesting corn in a field on a sunny day.
By Lyndi Allen September 18, 2025
Illinois farmers are concerned about their farms and the need for changes in production costs. Policy action is needed to expand ethanol blends, improve market access, and address high input costs.
man on farm working on equipment
By Tara Desmond September 18, 2025
It Seemed Routine—Until It Wasn’t
Collin Watters at podium
By Tara Desmond September 18, 2025
IL Corn joined the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council and Illinois Economic Development Association on a Japan trade mission, strengthening global markets for Illinois corn and ethanol and fostering new opportunities for farmers.
Winners
September 18, 2025
An air filter made from corn? That's right -- this company and more are coming up with innovative solutions using corn.
Show More