Schneidewind feted for lifetime of service to ag

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The Illinois Corn Growers Association’s prestigious World of Corn Award was presented to Mark Schneidewind on Nov. 25, honoring four decades of agricultural leadership with Farm Bureau.

This award honors individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the corn industry through leadership, advocacy and service.

Schneidewind was recognized for his decades of dedication to Illinois agriculture, his commitment to building relationships between farmers and policymakers and his enduring efforts to strengthen rural communities through education and outreach.

Schneidewind served as Will County Farm Bureau manager from 1991 until his retirement in February, completing a remarkable 40-year career in agricultural leadership with the Farm Bureau.

Within these four decades, Schneidewind became an important and invaluable partner for IL Corn, always showing up to help with a NASCAR event, coordinate local volunteers for an IL Corn legislative event, or secure donations of hay bales, sweet corn or whatever was needed for consumer engagement opportunities.

Of course, Schneidewind wasn’t only helping IL Corn. He was organizing the Will County Farm Bureau tent and petting zoo at the county fair and championing the efforts at Joliet Junior College to connect students with real-world opportunities in agriculture and agribusiness.

Throughout his career, Schneidewind emphasized service, collaboration and education. He played a key role in programs such as Ag in the Classroom and Illinois Farm Families, programs that wouldn’t function without support from farmer volunteers and leaders who are passionate about building ag awareness and supporting ag education.

“Mark’s leadership and passion for agriculture have left a mark on Will County and across Illinois,” said Mark Bunselmeyer, ICGA president and Maroa farmer.

“He’s spent his entire career making sure farmers have a voice, that our communities stay connected to agriculture and that the next generation understands the importance of what we do.

“The relationships Mark built and the programs he developed have created opportunities for countless young people and strengthened the future of Illinois agriculture. His legacy is one of dedication, integrity and community.”

Schneidewind and his wife, Anita, have been active partners in Farm Bureau events and initiatives for more than three decades. Their son, Michael, has also been part of the family’s journey through Illinois agriculture.

“This is really a shock to me because when we received phone calls from Jim Tarmann or Rodney Weinzierl or the late David Loos at IL Corn, it was always an honor to be able to have them reach out to me for basically, ‘We need your help.’ It showed the strength of collaboration between other state organizations and us together, so we can combine our resources,” Schneidewind said.

“I did that because it benefited agriculture. We didn’t do it for any type of recognition and I’m shocked I received this type of award because I’ve seen a lot of big names go across the stage with this. It is a true honor.

“I was basically what I would call the contact person. Everybody came to me and I would always go to my volunteers, my leadership and the leadership is what carried the ball for us.

“We’ve had four state leaders from Will County serve on this Corn Growers board and they’ve served quite a few years on this board.

“It’s strength in numbers. Each organization has a little different tie. Some may have better ties to the state while I have local contacts, and combining those together we’ve been able to make things happen.”