Ag youth honored at 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 April 27-28 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 2025-2026 academic year.

Illinois Farm Bureau, 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 2025-2026 Illinois Sustaining the Future Award recipients:

• Abagail Baumann — Boone County 4-H.

• Ryan Carlson — Marshall County 4-H.

• Makinzie Gaither — Lawrence County 4-H.

• Ethan Lee — Whiteside County 4-H.

• Grace McCarty — White County 4-H.

• Addison McGlaughlin — Boone County 4-H.

• Caitlin Murphy — Peoria County 4-H.

• Lane Perry — Clark County 4-H.

• Ojas Shah — McLean County 4-H.

• Shiloh Willis — Hamilton County 4-H.

Ten individuals were also recognized as a 2025-2026 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. They truly embody the FFA’s motto of “Living to Serve.”

Award winners are:

• Section 3 — Jolene Blackert, Cambridge High School, Henry County.

• Section 7 — Shelby Garbacz, Earlville High School, La Salle County.

• Section 9 — Tiffany Rustman, Flanagan-Cornell High School, Livingston County.

• Section 10 — Isabella Bunting, Dwight High School, Livingston County.

• Section 14 — Collin Johnson, Franklin High School, Morgan County.

• Section 16 — Gehrig Bunselmeyer, Maroa-Forsyth High School, Macon County.

• Section 19 — Levi German, Nokomis High School, Montgomery County.

• Section 22 — Sydney Kuergeleis, Waterloo High School, Monroe County.

• Section 23 — Haven Cash, North Clay High School, Clay County.

• Section 24 — Mackenna Wesseln, Pinckneyville High School, Perry County.

About Youth Education In Ag

IFB Family of Companies united forces through the YEA Committee to provide quality programs for agricultural education in Illinois.

The committee is comprised of representatives from each of the IFB 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.