Award honors generations of women in ag

NORMAL, Ill. — Illinois Agri-Women announced the three Legacy Farm Family Award winners for the Generations of Women in Agriculture Across America, or GoAg3, initiative.

The winners include the first-place Schultz/Miller farm family from northwest Illinois, southern Wisconsin and central Iowa.

Four generations of women working in production agriculture are represented by 14 exceptional women from the three living generations.

They continue to make their mark in the dairy industry with the Holstein and Brown Swiss associations and have expanded their love of livestock to horses, sheep, beef cattle and pigs.

The family engages in their communities through their Illinois and Iowa churches and schools, 4-H and FFA, Annie’s Project, Farmers Union and Farm Bureaus.

The Schultz/Miller women also make their mark on the agricultural industry through off-farm careers, including university extension, animal nutrition, genetics services, agricultural banking, K-12 teaching, photography, agritourism, livestock transportation and custom forage harvesting.

“It is truly amazing to see the array of leadership accomplishments and the involvement in agricultural activities by the Schultz/Miller women,” said David Fischer, retired University of Illinois Extension dairy educator, in his letter of recommendation for the family.

Green Farm Family

The second-place Legacy Farm Family Award winner is the Green family from Arthur in east-central Illinois.

Four generations of women in this unique family have been involved in agriculture dating back to great-grandmother Dorothy, who was the ultimate farm wife and farm supporter throughout her early years as a stay-at-home mom and into her elder years.

She and her husband made strategic land purchases and set moral and ethical standards that have allowed successive generations to thrive in production agriculture.

The three living generations are now playing major roles at Heritage Family Farms and have developed alternative and entrepreneurial streams of income for the family.

Jerelyn, Monica and Makenna have been involved in 4-H, FFA, Cub Scouts, Arthur Community Unit School District No. 305 Board of Education, PTA, their church, Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Board and Farm Bureau.

“What makes these three women especially deserving of recognition is not only their professional excellence, but their deep commitment to service — agriculture thrives when communities thrive,” said Gregory Peterson, retired Farm Credit Illinois ag financial services vice president.

O’Bryan Farm Family

The third-place Legacy Farm Family Award winner is the O’Bryan family from Grants Pass in southwestern Oregon, and Lakeview in south-central Oregon, surrounded by the Fremont-Winema National Forest.

The five generations of the O’Bryan farm family began with Elsie’s role as a sharecropper’s wife who raised chickens for meat and eggs, a milk cow and pigs.

Second-generation Mary was Pennsylvania Dutch, but moved to the West Coast to serve during World War II where she married and joined her husband’s farm.

The three living generations are now settled in southern Oregon, where livestock is a strong element of their involvement in production agriculture.

Kay focused on raising veal calves to supplement family income. Amanda focuses on market gardens and grafting techniques and myotonic goats, which Brenna has now incorporated into her FFA project.

Amanda and Brenna are involved in 4-H, FFA, the school district, Myotonic Goat Registry and Fainting Goat Guild.

Illinois Agri-Women

The GoAg3 initiative began in the fall of 2025 to recognize the women who have provided support and encouraged the women of their families to pursue non-traditional roles in agriculture.

IAW has invited the ladies of the three Legacy Farm Families to attend the GoAg3 Celebration on Aug. 21 in Normal.

The day will be filled with educational and professional development opportunities, in addition to meeting the Legacy Farm Families in person.

Make plans to join IAW to honor the three outstanding families at the Heartland Community College Agriculture Complex and for the award presentation during lunch at the DESTIHL Brewery and Beer Hall.

IAW is a statewide nonprofit with membership across the state with women involved in agriculture production, industry and stewardship.

More information and registration for the Celebration of the Legacy Families are available at illinoisagriwomen.org/goag3.