The CCFB delegation just got back from the IAA Annual Meeting in Chicago and Champaign County has a lot to celebrate. John Reifsteck was awarded the Charles B. Shuman Distinguished Service Award. This is the highest award given by the IL Farm Bureau and it recognizes a lifetime of service to agriculture at the State, Local, and National level. If you know John and Nancy, I’m sure you know that he is the definition of a servant leader who more than deserves this award.
Daniel and Constance Herriott were awarded the Young Leader Achievement Award which recognizes Young Leaders who have already made a huge impact on agriculture, their community, and the farm bureau. Daniel and Constance definitely fit that definition and we look forward to them competing with winners from across the country at the AFBF Annual Meeting in January.
That wasn’t Daniel’s only accomplishment as he also made the Sweet Sixteen of the Young Leader Discussion Meet. Champaign County’s other competitor, Jacob Dickey, made it to the final four and ended up as the runner-up in the whole competition.
On the program side of things, the CCFB and CCFB Foundation earned 1 gold star for CFB Foundations and Fundraising and 3 Silver Stars in the areas of Health and Safety, Farm Income and Development, and Local Affairs. All in all it was a great few days in Chicago! A bunch of pictures from the weekend are below.
Make sure you are keeping track of the announcements from the USDA around the Farmer Bridge Payments and the Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program. If you have any questions about either of those, feel free to call our office and we will get you to the correct office at the USDA.
As we move into 2026, the pace of CCFB events and programs will pick up. There are a bunch of opportunities presented above and I hope that we will see you in the New Year as we strive to provide meaningful opportunities for our members.
Bailey Conrady
CCFB Manager, 12/12/25
