By Carrie Muehling
BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Chamber of Commerce recognized six people for contributions to agriculture at the annual Agriculture Awards Dinner on Friday.
Outstanding Conservationist
Outstanding Conservationist Chip Henrichs of Normal started the Prairielands Preservation Foundation nine years ago. The group mow manages more than 2,500 acres. Henrichs has been doing conservation work for more than 35 years.
“I was born that way. It’s in my blood. When I was probably six years old, I was running around the fields and whatever. I like wildlife. I like putting in habitat. We plant a lot of prairie grass. We’ve built wetlands We restore savannahs and I really enjoy that. That’s my passion,” said Henrichs.
Emerging Leader in Agriculture
McLean County Farm Bureau Assistant Manager Anna Ziegler said she’s been fortunate to be in a position where she gets to implement the great ideas of so many others.
“There’s a lot of people on that list of past winners that I really look up to and respect. It’s very humbling to be named among those people and also just to be recognized by those I work with and that I respect and that have really done a lot for agriculture,” said Ziegler. “I also kind of think that the Emerging Leader is kind of a ‘you’ve got potential’ award, almost. There are some expectations with it, almost. I take that seriously and hope that I can continue to contribute to this community and to agriculture.”
Ziegler said she has especially enjoyed the work she has done with the McLean County Farm Bureau Ag Education committee and with the Food and Farm Fun Zone exhibit at the fairgrounds.
Outstanding Young Farmer
Matt Witte of Heyworth has a small but diversified operation. He grew up on the farm and decided it was where he wanted to stay. He currently farms about 100 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa and owns a flock of sheep and a cow herd he shares with his father.
“I’ve always been motivated, always loved livestock and crops, as well, so it just kind of fit very well for me. We were blessed to get an opportunity to buy a farmstead down by Heyworth – about 37 acres – so that definitely cemented my interests,” said Witte.
Witte hopes to grow the farm, and said livestock prices are favorable for expanding that part of the operation right now. He said it is humbling to be recognized for what he does every day.
McLean County Farmer of the Year
LeRoy farmer Rick Dean has been farming in McLean and DeWitt counties for the past 40 years. The family operation includes cattle, hogs, corn, soybeans and hay.
Dean has been involved in the community in a number of ways over the years, but listed a trip to China and Vietnam with the Illinois Agriculture Leadership Program as a highlight. He also mentioned his service to the McLean County Board and encouraged others to get involved in local government.
“The county board stuff – I really enjoyed that. I want to encourage other young farmers out there to get involved in zoning or the county board. The board needs some representation from agriculture,” said Dean.
Like other award winners, Dean was surprised and humbled by the award.
“I was humbled. I was honored. There are a lot of people I consider friends… I don’t see them often, but I still consider them friends and it was a remarkable experience,” he said.
Outstanding Person in Agribusiness
Attorney Thomas Jennings grew up in Western Illinois and came to Illinois State University to study Ag Science. He had the opportunity to do graduate work at Mississippi State and was headed for a crop physiology and plant modeling career. Jennings added a law degree thinking he might pursue the patent world as trait technology emerged in the plant science world, but he ended up coming back to Illinois to work with attorney Gale Saint on farm succession and estate planning and found he enjoyed that much more. Jennings was humbled by the recognition.
“It means a lot to me because this community is more than just coworkers and clients. They are good friends and good people and they’re people that you hold in high esteem because they’re people that will come to your door to help you when there is ever any problem and that’s the kind of community you want to be a part of,” said Jennings.
Outstanding Service to Agriculture
Illinois State University Research Farm Manager Russell Derango has spent the past 36 years working at the university farm. He has seen a number of changes during that time, including a major change in location for the facility.
“We were lucky to have the support of a lot of good legislators in the area to allow us and help us with that transition to be able to move the farm. I believe it was a good move for the farm. We’ve got a real nice area up there. The location is very good. The exposure for the university and the ag department right along I-55 is tremendous,” said Derango.
Derango was completely surprised by the award.
“I am humbled and very honored. It was a big surprise. The whole department pretty well duped me. I had no idea it was coming,” he said.
The McLean County Chamber of Commerce holds the banquet each year to recognize service to the agriculture community. The group will host its Agriculture Awareness Breakfast March 12 at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel and Conference Center.
Carrie Muehling can be reached at [email protected].
