Who are Illinois corn farmers?

One of our priorities is to help non-farmers understand who you are and what you do. We’ve focused quite a few our efforts in Chicago, knowing from research that consumers in Chicago are particularly disengaged from the agriculture going on downstate and that their votes impact your farms and families.

For a general overview of the outreach that we’re involved in, check out the following programs:

Illinois Farm FamiliesIL Corn provides this program in coalition with IL Beef, IL Milk, IL Pork, IL Soybean Associations, and the IL Farm Bureau to talk with Chicago moms and give them on-farm experiences.

Illinois Runs on HomeGrown Corn: This program gives non-farmers the opportunity to “visit” a farm using the newest technology!  We’re using virtual reality viewers and 360-degree filming technology to produce on-farm videos throughout the growing season.

CornBelters: IL Corn tests messages locally and attempts to change opinions in our own college town of Normal, IL by working with the Normal CornBelters.

U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Association: Through the National Corn Growers Association, IL Corn participates in this national collaborative, bringing factual information about agriculture to anyone who wants to know more.  This partnership also brought you the documentary, Farmland.

Radicle Growth Launches The Radicle Corn Value Chain Challenge Sponsored by US Corn Farmers

Radicle Growth

February 29th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICMB |  Public Outreach

The search is on for AgTech, Chemical, or Material Start-ups and Growth Companies worldwide whose innovative technologies and business models create new uses for corn and long-term sustainable...

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Community College Programming Invests in the Future Ag Workforce in Illinois

Lindsay Mitchell

February 8th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICMB |  Public Outreach

According to a July FarmDoc article, Agricultural Consumer Economics Professor Mark White shares that connecting young people to a beneficial work opportunity is a critical step in building and...

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ILLINOIS FARM FAMILIES TO BE FEATURED IN SUPER BOWL LVIII COMMERCIAL

February 7th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICMB |  Public Outreach

Illinois fans tuning into this weekend’s big game may see some familiar faces in a new commercial featuring five Illinois farm families. The commercial, titled “Career Path,” will air during Super...

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IL Corn Celebrates Farm Advocate Megan Dwyer's National Recognition in Young Leaders Competition

Tara Desmond

January 29th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Public Outreach |  Conservation

Megan Dwyer, a valuable member of the IL Corn team, has clinched 4th place nationally in the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture competition. Megan's...

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Experts Remain Optimistic Despite Hurdles Overseas

Haley Bickelhaupt

January 25th, 2024  |  Today's News |  Exports |  Public Outreach

National Corn Growers Association Lead Economist Krista Swanson remains optimistic despite overseas obstacles for United States corn exports. Drought in Central America and turmoil in the Middle...

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Capturing Generations of Farm Life - Winners Revealed in the 2nd Annual End of the Year Photo Contest

Tara Desmond

January 11th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Public Outreach

The winners of the 2nd annual end-of-the-year photo contest have been unveiled, showcasing the stories behind the camera. From the fields of Red Bud, IL, to the livestock farms of Morrisonville...

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ICMB Efforts in Mexico Magnified by Rail Issues

Haley Bickelhaupt

December 28th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICMB |  Livestock |  Exports |  Public Outreach |  Additional Research

Eighty-degree December weather is not ideal for grain storage on Steve Fourez’s farm in Fairmont, Illinois. Although hot weather and humidity poses challenges for grain sitting in bins, the IL...

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We Are the 96% Campaign Finishes Strong in 2024

Lindsay Mitchell

December 14th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICMB |  Public Outreach

  The We Are the 96% campaign brought to you by Illinois Farm Families will resume paid advertising opportunities in January and February 2024, concluding with a SuperBowl commercial for...

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10 Gift Ideas to Support Farmers & Corn

Tara Desmond

December 5th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Public Outreach

Looking for some gift ideas this year that are corny? Check out these 10 and don't forget about the gift ideas from 2022 and 2021.     Shoes Powered By...

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Kay Shipman: Media Award Recipient

Lindsay Mitchell

November 21st, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Public Outreach

The IL Corn Growers Association’s 2023 Excellence in Media Award was given to Kay Shipman, formerly a writer for Illinois Farm Bureau’s FarmWeek, at the ICGA Annual Meeting today in Bloomington....

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Paving a Path for Policy 

Haley Bickelhaupt

October 11th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Public Outreach |  Farm Policy

A selfie in front of the White House during her internship with the IL Corn Growers Association solidified a career path in Kylie Bohman’s mind.    Bohman’s trip with the organization in 2017...

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Governor J.B Pritzker Talks with Commodity Groups at Farm Progress Show

Haley Bickelhaupt

September 14th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Ethanol |  Public Outreach

Cameras, carts and security details created quite a buzz at the commodity tent   IL Corn Growers Association members spoke with Governor Pritzker at Farm Progress Show about policy impacting...

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Discovering Illinois Family Farms: Chicago Social Media Creators Learn about Animal Welfare, Sustainability, and Innovation

August 23rd, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICMB |  Public Outreach

This summer, a group of Chicago-based social media creators embarked on an eye-opening journey to three Illinois family farms in Kane County, gaining insights into the practices that make them...

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Corn & Soybean Farmers Can Experience “Fueling Progress” During Farm Progress Show

Lindsay Mitchell

August 14th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Public Outreach

IL Corn and the Illinois Soybean Association are proud to showcase all the ways they are “Fueling Progress” during the Farm Progress Show, August 29-31 in Decatur, IL at Lot 605.   The shared...

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7 IL Farmers Share Best and Worst Decisions Made

Tara Desmond

August 7th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Public Outreach

"Hard to answer because hindsight is 20/20. What might look like a good or bad decision at first might turn out the opposite later. For example, I bought a farm in 1980 that’s value dropped in...

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IL Corn Internships Deliver Invaluable Skills and Insights to the Next Generation

Brianna Croft

July 27th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Public Outreach

  IL Corn offers a summer intern program, Brianna Croft and Emily Bruch joined the small team by assisting the legislative, communications and marketing departments. Through real world...

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3 Tips for Transition from Summer on the Farm to School

Megan Dwyer

July 26th, 2023  |  Today's News |  Public Outreach

It seems like summer just gets started, then we hit the 4th of July and suddenly summer is on a rapid race to the finish line. While not having to make the 30 mile roundtrip for drop-off and...

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From Planting to Harvest - A Corn Journey

Tara Desmond

July 7th, 2023  |  Today's News |  Public Outreach

Share a new resource with your non-farmer friends, in the classroom or just for fun anywhere!  Tag us if you share on social media @ilcorn.  

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20 Movies You May Not Know Have Illinois Corn in Them

Tara Desmond

June 30th, 2023  |  Today's News |  Public Outreach

Field of Dreams (1989) - The entire film revolves around an Iowa cornfield, but some scenes were shot in Illinois corn fields as well in DuPage and Will County. Children of the Corn (1984) -...

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IL Corn Empowers Teachers with Corn 101 Knowledge for Summer Institute Ag in the Classroom

Tara Desmond

June 29th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Public Outreach

IL Corn is delighted to announce the successful culmination of its summer intern project with Illinois Ag in the Classroom, where interns passionately shared Corn 101 knowledge with teachers...

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