Mark Gebhards is named IFB Eagle Award winner

CHICAGO — Mark Gebhards, retired Illinois Farm Bureau executive director of governmental affairs and commodities division and chief strategy officer and adviser to the IFB president, was honored with the IFB 2025 Eagle Award for Excellence in recognition of his contributions to the organization and agricultural industry.

The Eagle Award recognizes an individual or organization for excellence on issues or programs important to Illinois Farm Bureau and to agriculture on a statewide or national basis. Gebhards was presented the award on Dec. 7 during IFB’s Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Gebhards served as chief strategy officer and adviser to the IFB president from 2023 to 2024. In this position, he helped craft and implement the Organizational Member Strategy, which is intended to ensure that IFB and the county Farm Bureaus are positioned to deliver the programs and services members want.

From 2003 to August 2023, Gebhards was executive director of the IFB governmental affairs and commodities division. In this role, he supervised staff that handled all lobbying and political action functions of IFB at the state and national levels and assisted county Farm Bureaus with local governmental activities.

He also administered programs for IFB commodity activities, including matters related to farm bill implementation, biotechnology, trade, livestock and other commodity issues.

Gebhards also coordinated IFB activities with closely related commodity groups, including the Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Pork and Beef Associations and Illinois Milk Producers Association.

Raised on a grain and livestock farm near Springfield, Gebhards remains involved in agricultural production. He earned his bachelor’s degree in administrative science from Southern Illinois University and his master’s from the University of Illinois.

Prior to joining IFB, Gebhards served as executive director of the Illinois Pork Producers Association from 1994 to 2003 and was director of association marketing for the American Soybean Association from 1989 to 1994. He also served as a county Farm Bureau manager in Macoupin and Stark counties between 1982 and 1989.

He and his wife, Beth, have four children, Shane, Grant, Logan and Molly.