Frels awarded Illinois Farm Bureau Award for Excellence
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[December 12, 2013]
CHICAGO — Mark Frels, of
Bloomington, has been named the recipient of the 2013 Illinois Farm
Bureau Eagle Award for Excellence. The award was presented during
the Illinois Agricultural Association's annual meeting Dec. 7-10 in
Chicago.
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Frels, who recently retired from the Illinois Farm Bureau after more
than 35 years, most recently served as head of the Member Services
and Public Relations division and was a member of IFB's management
team. He began his career with IFB in 1977 as a county Farm Bureau
manager trainee. He also served as the Knox County Farm Bureau
manager and as a regional manager. During his tenure as a division
head at IFB, membership in the organization grew from 264,000 to
more than 400,000. Frels also oversaw expansion of the Illinois Ag
in the Classroom program, member benefit programs and significant
expansion of the youth education activities programs.
He has received numerous awards and honors, including the Knox
County Meritorious Service to Agriculture Award, the Illinois
Wesleyan University Distinguished Alumni Award and Honorary State
FFA Degree.
Frels and his wife, Ann, live in Bloomington and have plans to
move back to Rock Island County, where his family farms.
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The IFB Eagle Award for Excellence recognizes individuals or
organizations for excellence on issues or programs important to
Farm Bureau and to agriculture on a statewide or national basis.
[Text from file received from
Illinois Farm Service Agency]
The Illinois Farm Bureau is a member of
the American Farm Bureau Federation, a national organization of
farmers and ranchers. Founded in 1916, IFB is a nonprofit,
membership organization directed by farmers who join through their
county Farm Bureau. IFB has a total membership of more than 400,000,
a voting membership of more than 82,000 and represents 3 out of 4
Illinois farmers.
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