The
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has announced the winners of the 2025 National Corn Yield Contest, and Illinois farmers once again demonstrated why the state remains a leader in corn production and agronomic innovation.
Now in its 61st year, the Yield Contest included nearly 7,800 entries from farmers in 47 states across 10 production categories. Verified yields across all entries averaged an impressive 269 bushels per acre, reflecting a growing season that supported a projected record U.S. corn crop.
“The Yield Contest is really about finding out what this crop is capable of,” said Ohio grower and NCGA President Jed Bower. “It challenges participants to find innovative ways to succeed and contributes to decades of agronomic data that prove American farmers are among the best in the world.”
2025 Illinois State Yield Contest Winners
Class B – Conventional Non-Irrigated
- 1st – John Groves, Atwater – Pioneer P1742PCE (336.0049 bu/ac)
- 2nd – Tony Uphoff, Findlay – Dyna-Gro D55VC80 (332.8394 bu/ac) (Troy also placed 3rd Nationally in same category)
- 3rd – Ryan Albin, Tuscola – DEKALB DKC68-35RIB (330.3736 bu/ac)
Class D – No-Till Non-Irrigated
- 1st – Kate Danner, Aledo – Pioneer P13777PCE (332.0231 bu/ac)
- 2nd – Alan Johnston, Galva – DEKALB DKC114-99RIB (305.4302 bu/ac)
- 3rd – Robb Klinger, Pecatonica – Pioneer P13777V (305.0805 bu/ac)
Class F – Strip-Till / Minimum-Till / Mulch-Till / Ridge-Till (Non-Irrigated)
- 1st – Trent Uphoff, Findlay – DEKALB DKC114-99 (346.4670 bu/ac)
- 2nd – Sherri Tomhave, Jacksonville – Pioneer P13777PCUE (337.8000 bu/ac)
- 3rd – Dale Hadden, Jacksonville – Pioneer P1742PCE (324.0312 bu/ac)
Class G – No-Till Irrigated
- 1st – Dan Luepkes, Chana – AgriGold A641-85STXRIB (305.0397 bu/ac)
- 2nd – Brad Noe, Eureka – Pioneer P1742Q (276.2053 bu/ac)
Class H – Strip-Till / Minimum-Till / Mulch-Till / Ridge-Till (Irrigated)
- 1st – Chance Meyer, Manito – Channel 218-66VT2PRIB (323.0035 bu/ac)
- 2nd – Dan Sass, Woodstock – Pioneer P13777V (312.5367 bu/ac)
- 3rd – Melissa Yocum, Oregon – AgriGold A6499STXRIB (299.6765 bu/ac)
Class I – Conventional Irrigated
- 1st – Greg McClure, Saint Francisville – DEKALB DKC68-35RIB (308.1798 bu/ac)
- 2nd – David Luepkes, Chana – AgriGold A644-64VT2RIB (297.9584 bu/ac)
Illinois Farmers Place Nationally in Nitrogen Management
Illinois growers also earned national recognition in the Nitrogen Management category, highlighting strong nutrient stewardship:
- 3rd Place – Jared Brown, Petersburg, Illinois
- 6th Place – Rob Park, Bloomington, Illinois
- 12th Place – Kate Danner, Aledo, Illinois
- 19th Place – Eric Miller, Monticello, Illinois
Recognition at Commodity Classic
A total of 30 national winners and 567 state winners will be honored by NCGA at the 2026 Commodity Classic, scheduled for February 25–27 in San Antonio, Texas.
A complete list of national and state winners is available at
ncga.com/YieldContest
