Love Is Everywhere (Especially in Corn)


By Tara Desmond February 11, 2026

Valentine’s Day might mean flowers, chocolates, and cards but around here, it also means corn. Not just the kind growing in the field. The kind woven quietly into everyday life.


  • That box of Valentine’s chocolates? Corn starch helps keep them from sticking.
  • That glossy card? Corn-based inks and biodegradable plastics make it possible.
  • The makeup tucked inside a gift bag? Many cosmetics use corn-derived ingredients for texture and smooth application.
  • Even some gift packaging and heart-shaped decorations are made from corn-based bioplastics that are renewable, plant-based, and proudly grown right here.


From the fuel in the tank to the sweetener in a treat, corn shows up in more ways than most people realize. It powers engines. It feeds livestock. It helps create sustainable materials.

And it connects farms to families every single day.


So this February, while we’re celebrating the people we love, it’s worth remembering something else we appreciate- how agriculture quietly supports the little moments, too. Because love, much like corn, shows up everywhere.


Valentine’s Gift Ideas for Your Farmer Husband or Wife


If you’re shopping for your favorite farmer, here are a few ideas that hit home:


Practical (but thoughtful):

  • High-quality insulated work gloves
  • A heated vest or jacket for cold mornings
  • New seat cushions for the tractor or combine


Personalized & Meaningful:

  • Framed aerial photo of your farm
  • Custom sign with your farm name + established date
  • A handwritten note about why you appreciate the long days they put in
  • A “farm date night” coupon book


Fun & Corn-Themed:


The truth is that farm love isn’t flashy. It’s steady. It’s dependable. It shows up early and stays late.


Kind of like corn.


Not a member?

Become one today!

SHARE THIS

Latest Posts

ICTV
By Tara Desmond July 2, 2026
E15, E20, E30: What the Research Really Shows
Schultz/Miller Family
By Penny Lauritzen - Illinois Agri-Women July 2, 2026
Illinois Agri-Women names three Legacy Farm Families for GoAg3, honoring generations of women in agriculture at an August 21 celebration.
Matt Boucher
By Tara Desmond July 2, 2026
Meet Matt Boucher of Boucher Family Farms in Dwight, IL — a 4th-gen farmer using cover crops, custom application & more. Read his story.
U.S. Capitol with “FARM BILL” text overlayed on the left
By Lyndi Allen July 2, 2026
Chairman John Boozman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry released a Farm Bill discussion draft on June 23, 2026.
Cover crops
By Lyndi Allen July 2, 2026
USDA's Regenerative Feedstock Rule provides important certainty for farmers as they begin making crop and input decisions. IL Corn has identified what it could mean for corn farmers.
Green graphic with Illinois outline and corn icon beside bold white text “NEWS RELEASE”
By Lindsay Croke July 2, 2026
ICGA would urge President Trump and the U.S. Trade Representative to build on the President's signature first term trade deal, swiftly negotiate improvements, and provide long term certainty.
Meganheadshot
By Tara Desmond July 1, 2026
Seven years ago, Megan Dwyer joined the IL Corn team and if you know Megan, you know she doesn't do anything halfway.
White
By Lindsay Croke June 26, 2026
The IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and our farmer leaders feel overwhelmingly positive after their review of the USDA Regenerative Feedstock Rule today
Monarch butterfly perched on a green plant against a blurred grassy background
By Pearl McDade June 25, 2026
Support pollinators in Illinois schools with free milkweed seeds, hands-on STEM learning, and real-world agriculture and conservation lessons.
Matt Raben
By Lyndi Allen June 25, 2026
Illinois Corn Farmer, Matt Raben, Speaks Out on the Importance of U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) for Agriculture by sharing U.S. corn export numbers to Canada and Mexico
Show More