Four Illinois farm couples have been selected as 2016 Master Farmers by Prairie Farmermagazine. The group will be honored for their exceptional agricultural production skills and community service at a ceremony in East Peoria, Ill., on Tuesday, March 8.

The 2016 Master Farmers are:

Mark and Karen DeDecker, Henry County. The Cambridge farmers raise corn and soybeans on 2,000 acres with their son, Lance, and finish 30,000 hogs in a feeder-to-finish operation. They’ve been active in the Illinois Pork Producers Association and in Henry County SWCD and FSA boards, and are parents to three adult children.

Reggie and Norma Jean Dowell, Menard County. The Greenview farmers raise corn, soybeans and seed beans on 5,380 acres, farming with their son David. Once active in the hog business, they’re currently retrofitting a hog barn to finish cattle. They been active in local school, SWCD, and fair boards, and in their local Methodist church. The Dowells have four children.

Ron and Julie Lawfer, Jo Daviess County. The Kent dairy farmers milk 180 cows and raise 180 young dairy stock, and farm 450 acres of corn, soybeans and hay. The Lawfers welcome more than 500 visitors to their farm every year and are active in the local Farm Bureau and school board. The Lawfers have three adult children.

Bill and Brenda Raben, Gallatin County. The Ridgway farmers farm 2,400 acres of corn and soybeans in southeastern Illinois, farming in conjunction with Bill’s brother, Jim. They’ve been active in the Illinois Soybean Association and in St. Kateri Catholic Church, which they helped rebuild after it was destroyed by a tornado. They are parents to three adult children.

Candidates are nominated by farmers, agribusiness leaders and agricultural extension specialists from throughout the state. This is the first time Prairie Farmer has awarded its coveted Master Farmer award to four farm couples.

Judges for the awards were Gary Ash, 1^st Farm Credit Services; Karen Corrigan, McGillicuddy Corrigan Agronomics; Linnea Kooistra, 2011 Master Farmer; Ed McMillan, University of Illinois Board of Trustees Chairman; Steve Myers, Busey Ag Services; and Holly  Spangler, Prairie Farmer editor.

Prairie Farmer first offered the award in 1925, when Editor Clifford Gregory established it as a way to recognize Illinois farmers for something more than just farming skills. Gregory felt the award would help give farm people a greater sense of “pride and permanence.”

Back in 1925, Prairie Farmer gave its first Master Farmer awards at a ceremony in Chicago, where the magazine honored 23 Illinois and Indiana farmers as Master Farmers and presented them with gold medals.

“It’s become a Hall of Achievement for Illinois farmers like no other, because it’s honored farmers who seem to do it all: combining top agricultural production skills with community service, grassroots achievement and dedication to their families,” says Prairie Farmer editor Holly Spangler. “They are the folks who make our rural communities tick.”

The award was discontinued during the Depression and resumed in 1968. Since then, more than 300 farmers have been named Master Farmer and still with the same credentials: outstanding agricultural production and outstanding community service.

Partners

Prairie Farmer is grateful to Growmark for their continued financial support of the Master Farmer program. Since 2009, Growmark has provided the financial assistance necessary to continue the awards program.

The company’s commitment to caring for the local ag community dovetails nicely with Prairie Farmer’s mission to maintain the heritage and honor of the Master Farmer awards. Like the Master Farmer award, the Growmark system was born during the 1920s. In 1927, nine local co-ops formed the Illinois Farm Supply Co. Today, the brand is known as FS.

"It's an honor to sponsor this prestigious award. Individuals recognized as Master Farmers embody the qualities and competencies of this noble profession we are so proud to serve and be a part of," says Chuck Spencer, Growmark corporate and government relations executive director.

Check out complete profiles of each of the 2016 Prairie Farmer Master Farmers.

Mark and Karen DeDecker, Henry County

Reggie and Norma Jean Dowell, Menard County

Ron and Julie Lawfer, Jo Daviess County

Bill and Brenda Raben, Gallatin County