Meet Pervis Ellis: New IL Corn Board Director

Tara Desmond
January 9, 2025

IL Corn is thrilled to welcome Pervis Ellis (Ellis) as a new board member, representing District 15 and the farmers of Southern Illinois. With his decades of experience, deep community ties, and commitment to agriculture, Ellis brings a vital perspective to our efforts. His leadership will help amplify the voices of farmers in Springfield and Washington, D.C., ensuring their needs and priorities remain at the forefront of policy discussions. We look forward to the impact Pervis will make in advocating for a stronger future for Illinois agriculture.

 

Ellis, a lifelong farmer and community leader from Saline County, Illinois, has spent decades cultivating crops and connections. Alongside his wife, Wendy, whom he met in high school, Pervis has raised three daughters, welcomed six grandchildren, and dedicated time to mentoring as 4-H leaders, church camp volunteers, and Sunday School teachers.

 

Here's some fun Q and A to get to know Pervis, the new District 15 IL Corn Growers Assocaition board directors:

Q: Tell us about your farm

A: Our farm is located in Saline County near Harrisburg, IL Our family moved from Bell City, MO-near Sikeston, to our present location in 1965. A cotton wagon was my day care center in the Fall. As co-manager of Ellis Brothers Farms with my brother Gary, we grow white corn, soybeans, and wheat on challenging gumbo soil, embracing innovative solutions like drainage tile to improve our land.

 

Q: What would your spirit animal be and why

A: I would love to be our farm dog. Doesn't have a care in the world, especially eating, but is always expecting the head and ears to be rubbed.

 

Q: What are you thankful for in 2024?

A: Highlights of 2024 that we added another grandaugter(#5) and being asked by a good friend, Joe Murphy, to replace him on the IL Corn Growers Associationi Board.

shane and Andrew on il corn tv
By Tara Desmond June 18, 2026
What Illinois Farmers Should Know About the People Opening Global Doors for Their Grain
agronomy angle
By Matt from Becks June 18, 2026
Fungicide Timing and Today's Disease Challenges
milkdonation
By Tara Desmond June 18, 2026
In honor of National Dairy Month, Illinois farmers and IL Corn helped deliver thousands of pounds of milk to food-insecure families.
Evan Leeper
By Lyndi Allen June 17, 2026
Meet Evan Leeper, a fifth-generation farmer working ground in Macon County that his family has farmed since the 1850s. A former infantryman who farms alongside his father and brother-in-law.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Building
By Lyndi Allen June 17, 2026
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a historic $125 million annual investment in agricultural research infrastructure across America, an opportunity for Illinois Universities
Baby with Corn Plastic Food Containers
By Pearl McDade June 12, 2026
Explore how corn is converted into PLA bioplastic for cups, food packaging, and 3D printing as demand grows for sustainable materials.
Show More