Ag youth honored at leadership conference

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 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 2024-2025 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.

In addition to participating in leadership workshops, attendees were recognized as top-performing agricultural youth.

Ten Illinois 4-H members, ages 17 to 19, who exemplified outstanding leadership within the agricultural industry and demonstrate a desire to remain engaged, were recognized as 2024-2025 Illinois Sustaining the Future Award recipients.

4-H 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 2024-2025 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.

FFA section presidents assist at various state career development events and overall serve as important leaders in the eyes of students and industry professionals.

Students serving as a FFA section president dedicate a large sum of their time and dedication to the FFA organization and those they serve.

FFA 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.