Meet Shane Gray: Farmer, Entrepreneur, and IL Corn TV Host

If you've tuned into IL Corn TV, you already know the name Shane Gray. But there's a lot more to this Waverly, Illinois farmer than what you see on screen.

Shane owns and operates the S&J Gray Trucking Company alongside the JRM Crop Insurance Risk Management Agency and somehow still finds time to host one of agriculture's most-watched online shows.

A Host With History

When asked who he'd go back in time to interview, Shane didn't hesitate. "It would be Dave Loos," he said. With ethanol meetings and the push for E-15 front and center right now, Shane says Dave's knowledge and perspective would be invaluable. It's a tribute that says a lot about how seriously Shane takes the mission behind the show.

The Best-Kept Secret on the Gray Farm

Here's something Shane will tell you himself: he's been officially "kicked out" of both the planter and the combine. And he's just fine with that. "I like to see the next generation (my son) in the succession process take place and give people some ownership in the operation." It's less of a secret and more of a philosophy.

Night Owl, Not an Early Bird

Don't schedule a 7 a.m. meeting with Shane Gray and expect peak performance. He's a self-described late-night person, and he's not shy about it. His message to the IL Corn Growers Association meeting planners? "Can we bump that to at least eight?" Fair enough.

Ted Nugent, Stranglehold, and Pineapple on Pizza

Ask Shane what theme song matches his personality and he'll tell you: Ted Nugent's Stranglehold. Bold, straight-ahead, and unapologetic — which tracks. He's equally unapologetic about one culinary hill he'll die on: pineapple does not belong on pizza. Full stop.

What He Wants You to Know About IL Corn TV

Shane's biggest wish? That more people knew the show existed. "I think we interview and have on some of the most impressive and interesting people, really in the nation," he said. His ask is simple to just give it 30 seconds, or 1 minute. "Once you watch one, you'll be hooked."

Planting Season Advice That Holds Up

When it comes to the farm, Shane's philosophy is straightforward: when it's time to go, go. Don't wait. Don't put it off. "There's been times when you've been like, let's wait a day and then you miss the window." In planting season, one day can matter. A week can be detrimental. It's the kind of hard-earned wisdom that only comes from years in the field.