January-March Highlights Annual Report

Rod Weinzierl Testifies in Washington, D.C.
ICGA Executive Director Rod Weinzierl provided federal testimony in the House Agriculture Committee, delivering firsthand insight on farmer economics, transportation challenges, and biofuels policy.
His testimony reinforced ICGA’s leadership role on national issues and brought Illinois farmers’ priorities directly to federal decision-makers.
E15 in Illinois
EPA’s summer waiver permitted E15 sales in Illinois throughout the 2025 driving season.
While this supports ethanol demand and consumer choice, the waiver is temporary. IL Corn continues advocating for a permanent, nationwide fix.
Strong Federal Advocacy Presence
ICGA leaders participated in a major Washington, D.C. fly-in, meeting with 17 Congressional offices and 50+ partners, embassies, and agencies.
ICGA brought new farmer voices into the GR.O.W. (GrassRoots Orientation to Washington DC) leadership program, building long-term advocacy capacity.
Discussions centered on: the severe ag economic downturn, ethanol policy, lock and dam modernization, and conservation funding.
ICGA helped support and participate in the Illinois Future of Fuels: Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Beyond Conference, ensuring Illinois corn farmers were represented on stage as key contributors to the growing SAF economy. The event brought together airlines, fuel producers, manufacturers, and state leaders to discuss Illinois’s competitive advantage — including its SAF tax incentive, strong ag supply chain, and carbon-reduction potential. ICGA’s involvement positioned corn growers at the center of future low-carbon fuel markets and highlighted the new opportunities SAF could bring to rural Illinois.

IL Corn in DC

Button

Group of people in suits posing in a room with blue walls, two leather chairs in the foreground.

Faces of Humanity

Portraits of people from around the globe

Button

Rod Testifying

Stark beauty of desolate dunes

Button

Two men in suits stand in a room, beneath a screen displaying

Button

Woman in glasses smiles, resting hand on cheek, talking with a person, seated indoors.

Three people at a podium with a US Grains Council backdrop. A man holds an award; all are smiling.

Two men shaking hands in a hotel lobby. One wears a patterned blazer, the other a navy blazer. Both smile.

Three people at US Grains Council event: man holding plaque, flanked by two others. Background banner.

Group of people posing on a stage, with a green backdrop. Some are wearing suits, smiling.

Two men posing, smiling, inside a crowded event space, banner reads

Two women smiling, posing for a photo. One in a red blazer, the other in a black blazer. Striped shirts, black pants, patterned floor.

Panel of men in suits on stage; event backdrop with corn.

Two men in suits shaking hands in a room with red walls, a sofa, and artwork.

Three people smiling at a formal event, woman in red blazer and necklace, man in suit and tie.

Group of people in suits posing near an American flag.

Group of people posing on steps in front of the U.S. Capitol building.

Group of people in a room, posing for a photo. There's a flag, shelves, and a TV on the wall.

Man speaking at a podium, wearing a suit and tie, with a blue background.

Panel of men sitting on stage at a conference, facing the audience, blue backdrop.

Two men in suits holding an award. One man is smiling and holding the plaque.

Two men holding plaques, smiling in front of a curtain. One wears a red tie, the other a blue tie.

Group poses with plaque on stage; man holds plaque, others smile.

Group of seven people posing with an award in a formal setting.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

From the Archives to the Field: A Student's Take on Illinois Corn History

By Tara Desmond • June 11, 2026

How much do you know about the farmers who came before you and the decisions that still shape Illinois agriculture today? That's what University of Illinois student Lyndon Shi set out to explore during his internship with IL Corn . What began as an archival research project became a deeper look at the history of farmer leadership, innovation and advocacy in Illinois. While digging through university archives, Lyndon uncovered an undigitized manuscript from agricultural economist Harold Guither explaining the case for checkoffs. When he mentioned the discovery to IL Corn Director Rod Weinzierl, he got an unexpected response: "Oh yeah, I know him. We worked with him." It was a reminder that agricultural history isn't as distant as it may seem. Lyndon's research connected two eras of the IL Corn Growers Association: the original organization founded in the 1890s and the modern ICGA established in the 1970s. He learned how University of Illinois agriculture dean Eugene Davenport helped organize corn growers and sent professors across the state on "Corn Gospel Trains" to share the latest farming research. One story stood out in particular: the adoption of hybrid corn. Farmers who once judged corn by the appearance of the ear had to shift their focus to yield. Lyndon sees a similar transition today, as farmers increasingly balance yield with profitability amid rising input costs. "Illinois corn farmers are very good at organizing, and they are genuinely very grassroots," Lyndon said. "They've had a much more active role in shaping policy rather than just being on the receiving end." This Summer and Fall, Lyndon will travel to Taiwan on a federal scholarship to study food security. He'll do so with a new appreciation for Illinois agriculture's global connections, including Taiwan's longstanding role as an important trading partner. Watch the full conversation on IL Corn TV to hear Lyndon's research firsthand and discover how Illinois corn's history continues to influence the future.