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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Top-performing and innovative FFA Section
Presidents and 4-H members cultivated necessary leadership and
professional skills during the Youth Education in Agriculture
Committee’s recently held Premier 20 Leadership Conference.
The Premier 20 Leadership Conference, held April 28-29 in
Bloomington, is an elite youth leadership and professional
development opportunity uniting 20 exemplary youth in
agriculture from 4-H and FFA. Participants were also recognized
for achievements during the 2024-25 academic year.
Illinois Farm Bureau Family of Companies through the YEA
Committee sponsors the conference each year. Attendees invited
to attend are the Top 10 FFA Section Presidents and the Illinois
4-H Sustaining the Future Award recipients.
Attendees participated in a series of sessions allowing them to
take a deeper dive into what it means to be a leader and make a
positive difference while building necessary communication and
cooperative skills. The sessions are intended to help the young
professionals develop themselves as leaders.
Outstanding Leadership Awards
In addition to participating in leadership workshops, attendees
were recognized as top-performing agricultural youth.
Ten Illinois 4-H members, ages 17-19, who exemplified
outstanding leadership within the agricultural industry and
demonstrate a desire to remain engaged, were recognized as
2024-25 Illinois Sustaining the Future Award recipients. Award
winners are:
Amanda Niemann, Montgomery County
Caleb Zwilling, Champaign County
Ellis Rogers, Knox County
Faustina Krysciak, Kendall County
Hayley Lair, Adams County
Kamber Kilgus, Livingston County
Kristina Morrow, Logan County
Mason Hilmes, Clinton County
Owen Kocher, Richland County
Taylor Crouch, Macon County
Ten individuals were also recognized as a 2024-25 Illinois FFA
Top 10 Section President. This award recognizes FFA members who
excelled in their role as an Illinois FFA Section President over
the past year. Section FFA Presidents assist at various state
career development events and overall serve as important leaders
in the eyes of students and industry professionals.
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Top-performing and innovative FFA section presidents and 4-H members cultivated
necessary leadership and professional skills during Illinois Farm Bureau’s
recently held Premier 20 Leadership Conference. (Catrina Rawson/IFB)
Students serving as a Section FFA
President dedicate a large sum of their time and dedication to the
FFA Organization and those they serve. They truly embody the FFA's
motto of "Living to Serve." Award winners are:
Ethan Bremmer, Section 1 (Stephenson County)
Paige Sierens, Section 3 (Henry County)
Ellie Davis, Section 6 (DeKalb County)
Tiffany DeYoung, Section 10 (Kankakee County)
Kyle Bradshaw, Section 13 (Pike County)
Kaydance Wooton, Section 16 (DeWitt County)
Aubrey Wall, Section 19 (Bond County)
Wyatt Draper, Section 20 (Crawford County)
Robert Anderson, Section 23 (Richland County)
Brianna Cullers, Section 25 (Saline County)
About Youth Education in Agriculture:
Illinois Farm Bureau Family of Companies united forces through the
Youth Education in Agriculture (YEA) Committee to provide quality
programs for agricultural education in Illinois. The committee is
comprised of representatives from each of the Illinois Farm Bureau
Family of Companies, Illinois 4-H and Illinois FFA. The committee
conducts programs to both develop and recognize outstanding
professional development skills among youth in agriculture.
About Illinois Farm Bureau:
Founded in 1916, Illinois Farm Bureau – originally known as the
Illinois Agricultural Association – is a nonprofit, grassroots
membership organization. Illinois Farm Bureau and a statewide
network of county Farm Bureaus give members an advantage through
impactful advocacy, trusted information and meaningful development
to support their careers and Illinois farm families.
[Illinois Farm Bureau] |
