 Richard Guebert Jr., of Ellis Grove, was elected to a two-year
term as IFB president. Guebert previously served as vice
president of IFB for the last 10 years and has served as
president of the Randolph County Farm Bureau."I'm looking
forward to working with the board of not only Illinois Farm
Bureau, but also Country Financial," Guebert said. "We'll
continue (to) move Illinois agriculture forward, stay abreast of
the emerging issues and get our points of view carried out."
Guebert said he felt government over-regulation, commodity
prices and inability to complete a farm bill would be the main
challenges facing Illinois farmers during the next few years.
"We need to find a way to engage our legislators so they can
hear what we have to say and encourage them to do what they were
elected to do," Guebert said. "We need a farm bill passed, we
need response on RFS, we need good energy policy that will take
care of this country going down the road, and we need to be
fiscally responsible and financially stable, whether it's here
in Illinois or in Washington, D.C. And we need to be part of
those conversations with our legislators."
During his tenure as vice president, Guebert participated in
trade missions to India, Poland, China and Cuba, and was
appointed to the Taxpayer Action Board and the Governor's Export
Advisory Council.
Guebert has a bachelor's degree in agriculture education,
with a minor in animal science, from Southern Illinois
University. Guebert and his wife, Nancy, and their son, Kyle,
operate a corn, soybean and wheat farm in Randolph County.
Guebert replaces Philip Nelson, of Seneca, who served 10
years as IFB president. IFB has a tenure policy limiting
officeholders to five consecutive two-year terms.
David Erickson, of Altona, was elected to a two-year term as
IFB vice president. Erickson previously served as Illinois
Soybean Association president, American Soybean Association
president and Knox County Farm Bureau president.
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"This is exciting," Erickson said. "I feel a tremendous sense of
responsibility to the organization and the members we all represent.
I'm excited about the opportunity to get further engaged in
resolutions and issues with Illinois Farm Bureau. I've really
enjoyed the opportunity to get across the state and meet more
members during this campaign process and I can't wait to do it
more."
Erickson said he's looking forward to continuing IFB's work on
moving a five-year farm bill forward.
"I think our inability to reach a decision in a timely basis on
the farm bill — well, we as producers need to take part of the
blame," Erickson said. "Perhaps we have been giving some mixed
signals. I think, organizationally, Illinois Farm Bureau has been
right on point and been consistent with what they do, but I think
throughout the countryside we hear a mix of messaging in what is
important to producers. It's clear we need risk management and it
needs to be producer-friendly. Those key things are important."
Erickson is a graduate of Western Illinois University with a
bachelor's degree in agricultural education. He is an active member
of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Altona. He and his wife, Nancy,
operate a corn and soybean farm that specializes in using no-till
practices and site-specific technology. They have one son, Adam.
[Text from file received from
Illinois Farm Bureau]
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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