IBA Member Awards

Your nominations for the Illinois Beef Association member awards are critical to recognize those individuals who "give their all" to make our industry the best it can be. Nominations can be made for your operation or on behalf of another producer. The winners will be recognized at the IBA Annual Meeting. We are very proud of the contributions made by the producers in our industry. This is an opportunity to recognize them both personally and professionally. 

*Producers that have won any of the following awards in the last 10 years are not eligible.

*Nominations closed on Friday, March 28, 2025 

Farm Family of the Year

To recognize a beef producer family in Illinois who has done an outstanding job in the production and promotion of beef and exemplified leadership skills on the county and state levels. Farm Family of the Year will be awarded at the IBA Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony and presented at the Illinois State Fair.

Seedstock Breeder of the Year

To recognize a beef producer in Illinois who exemplifies integrity, leadership and success in the production and promotion of the purebred cattle industry.

Commercial Producer of the Year

To recognize a beef producer in Illinois who exemplifies integrity, leadership and success in the production and promotion of the commercial cattle industry.

Environmental Steward of the Year

To recognize a beef producer in Illinois whose natural resource stewardship practices protect the environment and contribute to productivity and profitability.

Outstanding Junior of the Year

To recognize a member of the Illinois Junior Beef Association who exemplifies integrity, leadership and commitment to being active in Illinois' beef cattle industry.

IBA Member of the Year 

(New in 2022) To recognize a member of the Illinois Beef Association that continually goes above and beyond to support the efforts of the Association, and demonstrates a commitment to the Illinois cattle industry, and its people. 

Valued Industry Partner

To recognize an affiliated industry stakeholder for their career investment in the Illinois Beef Association and the statewide cattle industry. This award is given to an individual whose leadership and contributions have significantly benefited the Association and/or the beef industry through their professional contributions and volunteerism.

 


2024 Farm Family of the Year

Kramer Farms | Farina 

The Kramer family has a long tenure in the purebred Angus business with roots put down in the 1960s by Eugene and Marilyn Kramer. Today, the family farming operation consists of an 80-head registered Angus herd, corn and soybeans, and a seed dealership selling Dekalb corn and Asgrow soybeans. The operation is jointly managed by Keith Kramer and his son Brady, along with their wives Denise and Brittney, respectively. Brady and Brittney have two sons, Owen (6) and Hudson (3) Kramer. For the Kramer’s, family comes first, and raising high-quality Angus seedstock is a close second. Since their beginning, the Kramer family has worked to produce functional cattle that pass on their easy-fleshing ability, high fertility, and good disposition to their offspring with predictability.

2024 Commercial Producer of the Year

MAC Cattle Company | Payson

MAC Cattle Company started as a cow-calf operation nearly 20 years ago. In recent years the Maiers family sold the cow herd and today focuses solely on backgrounding 4-5 weight calves and farming nearly 2,000 acres of corn and soybeans. Tim and LeAnn’s son Trevor returning to the family farm in 2020, following his graduation from Iowa State University, spurred the change for MAC Cattle Company. With two recent barn additions, a bed pack monoslope barn, and a deep pit gable barn, MAC Cattle Company can background roughly 800 calves, and turn their barns three times a year. These two barns, in addition to an existing monoslope, allow MAC Cattle Company to minimize inputs and maximize outputs on 8-9 weight feeders. Today, Trevor manages the day-to-day operations with the cattle, but it truly is a family farming operation. 

2024 Outstanding Juniors of the Year

Kade & Kendall Boatman | Rockford 

For the first time ever, a brother-sister duo together receive the title of 2024 Outstanding Juniors of the Year! Kade and Kendall Boatman have a unique perspective of what it takes to be part of the cattle industry, helping their family manage the 150-head Hereford operation, Perks Ranch, in addition to running their own purebred Hereford operation 2TK Cattle. The Boatman twins are highly involved in their state and national breed associations, and the Illinois Junior Beef Association. Both Kade and Kendall have an impressive portfolio of industry involvement that spans from FFA contests and leadership roles, to showing on a state and national level, while still finding time to continue educating themselves by participating in youth programs, like the Illinois Junior Beef Tour and the Hereford Association's Faces of Leadership Conference. Both siblings embody the kind of hard work, commitment, and leadership that is infectious to those around them, coupled with an unwavering passion for Hereford cattle.   

2024 Environmental Steward of the Year

Green's Diamond G Farm | Atlanta 

Wes and Martha Green, of Green’s Diamond G Farm, utilize their knowledge and experience to maximize their pasture acreage while simultaneously improving overall soil quality. In 2005, while looking to expand their cow herd, the Green’s utilized EQUIP funding to install five strand high-tensile perimeter fencing and divide fencing that created over twenty paddocks on their 70-acres. Wes and Martha currently run 60 cows and through rotational grazing, and the use of summer annuals, have extended their grazing season from April to January. In addition to a dual-purpose cow herd, producing replacement females and freezer beef, Wes and Martha also have a custom forage business where they sell ProHarvest seed, plant and harvest forages for customers, plus bail a large quantity of hay each year. 

2024 Seedstock Producer of the Year 

Moore Land & Cattle | Jerseyville

Moore Land and Cattle, MLC, is owned and operated by Dennis Moore, his wife Sara, and their three daughters: Taylor, Hannah, and Morgan. In addition to the Moore family, Ben Trygar, MLC herdsman, plays an integral role in the operations success today. Established in 2005, the seedstock operation is located near Jerseyville, Illinois, consisting of 2,250 tillable acres of corn, soybeans, and wheat, and 500 pasture acres. The operation runs between 200 and 225 mother cows of registered Simmental, Angus and Charolais. MLC has shown numerous state and national champion cattle. Each year in December, Dennis holds a production sale featuring open heifers, bred heifers, mature cows, live bulls, and semen. In addition to their production sale, the operation sells nearly 20 private-treaty bulls annually. Moore Land and Cattle is a true seedstock operation with roots in the show cattle industry, that is well-run and consistently produces high-quality breeding cattle.

2024 Member of the Year

Justin Rahn | Mount Carroll 

Eight years ago, Justin was elected to the IBA Board of Governors and has since served on the Checkoff and Policy boards. He is currently sitting as the Policy Secretary/Treasurer. Nationally, Justin served three years on the Cattlemen's Beef Board helping to direct the use of national checkoff funds. Justin also represented Illinois at the Young Cattlemen's Conference, which is designed to identify and develop potential leaders for the beef industry. Beyond his professional involvement, Justin farms corn, soybeans, wheat, and a variety of cover crops along with his wife Ellen, son Evan, and Ellen's family. The Rahn's have a fall and winter calving cow herd where they retain and develop the calves for beef. While Justin has plenty to keep him busy in Carroll County, he always makes a conscious effort to attend NCBA and IBA events to ensure he is doing his part. Justin is actively demonstrating the importance of advocating for what you believe in while encouraging others to do the same. 

2024 Valued Industry Partner 

Barney Gehl | Zoetis 

Barney is no stranger to the Illinois cattle industry. In part, this may be due to his long-standing career with Zoetis, but it is likely because he is the kind of person who always shows up – he’s helpful, eager to promote, support and celebrate our beef industry and our members. Barney shows up for producer events across the state, for cattlemen and women who need an extra hand around the farm, and in leadership positions. He is a past director on the IBA Board of Governors, regularly prioritizes sponsorship dollars from Zoetis for the betterment of our industry, and you can always count on him to lend a hand. Barney truly embodies morphing work into a career and continually utilizing his resources and abilities to help those in the agriculture industry. 

VIP Award Winner

Past Award Winners

View an archive of our past award winners!

2023 | Andras Stock Farm | Manchester 

2022 | J. Willrett Farms, Jamie & Larisa Willrett | Malta

2021 | Frost Family | Tallula

2020 | Edenburn Family | Penfield

2019 | Graff Land & Livestock | Middletown

2018 | Pfundstein Family | Sterling

2017 | Adams Farms | Sandwich

2016 | Kendall Tarr Family | Newton

2015 | Prescott Family | Sherman

2014 | Curt Rincker Family | Shelbyville

2013 | Mike McClelland Family | Bowen

2012 | Larson/ Martz Family | Maple Park

2011 | Kocher Family | Henry

2010 | Roger Nordman Family | Oregon

2009 | J. Willrett Family | Malta

2008 | Pfundstein Family | Sterling

2007 | Bliler Family | Mechanicsburg

2006 | Vern & Jean Schiller Family | McHenry

2023 | Cardinal Cattle Company | Wyoming 

2022 | C-Mor Beef Farm | Seymour

2021 | Lorenzen Farms | Chrisman

2020 | Double Diamond Angus | Chrisman

2019 | Adcock Land & Livestock | Moweaqua

2018 | Curtin Land & Cattle | Blue Mound

2017 | Tree Lane Farms | El Paso

2016 | Diamond A Farms | Altamont

2015 | Dameron Angus | Lexington

2014 | Prairie View Farms/Alan Miller | Gridley

2013 | Lowderman Cattle Company | Macomb

2012 | Wildberry Farms | Hanover

2011 | Murphy's Angus | Illiopolis

2010 | Perks Ranch | Rockford

2009 | Panther Creek Ranch | Bowen

2008 | Rincker Simmentals | Shelbyville

2007 | Musgrave Angus | Griggsville

2006 | Andras Stock Farm | Manchester

2005 | Tomlinson Farms | West Frankfort

2004 | Sauk Valley Angus | Rock Falls

2003 | Sunnyhill Angus Farm | Fairview

2002 | J. Ben Curtin | Taylorville

2001 | Max West | Omaha

2000 | Ellis Farms | Chrisman

1999 | Brecher Angus Farm | Groveland

1998 | John & Fred Curtain | Blue Mound

1997 | Kramer Farms | Farina

1996 | DeKap Angus | Lanark

1995 | Jim & JoAnn Enos | Stockton

1994 | Gerald & Lois Neher | Anna

1993 | Bill Eiten | Huntsville

1992 | Bud Hobbs | Good Hope

1991 | Norman Bruce & Les Mathers | Mason City

1990 | Lester & Tom Saxe | Thompsonviile

1989 | Bill & Steve Florshuetz | Sublette

1988 | Rincker Brothers | Strasburg

1987 | Jim Hall | Eddyville

1986 | Jay Book | Sterling

1985 | Ivan & Frank Rincker | Strasburg

1984 | Clifford & Bruce Betzold | Nokomis

1983 | Fred Killam | Jacksonville

1982 | Lawrence Meyer | Topeka

1981 | Stanley Nesemeier | Lanark

1980 | W.B. Williams | Plymouth

1979 | Herman Schaefer | Morris

1978 | Rock River Farms | Byron

1977 | Gibb Angus Farms | Piper City

1976 | Loren Schlipf | El Paso

2023 | Jakobs Bros. Farms | Sterling 

2022 | Cramer Family Farms | Macomb

2021 | O'Hern Stock Farms | Vermont

2020 | Weber Beef Inc. | Geneseo

2019 | Dean Beef & Bacon | Le Roy

2018 | ODK Wagenknecht Farms | Milledgeville

2017 | Kassing Farms | Mount Sterling

2016 | Bob Fidler Family | Fairview

2015 | Head Cattle/Dipper Farms | Blue Mound

2014 | Black Gold Ranch/Steve Foglesong | Astoria

2013 | Bill Bass | Cobden

2012 | Quarter B Farms | Pleasant Plains

2011 | Hadden Farms | Jacksonville

2010 | Slykhuis Farms | Raleigh

2009 | Gehrke Farms | Delavan

2008 | Stan & Lisa Buzzard | Beecher City

2007 | Freedom Hills Ranch | Mt. Carroll

2006 | Trevor & Jane Toland | Macomb

2005 | Larry & Barry Dowell | Stronghurst

2004 | Ken & Sara Nimrick | Stronghurst

2003 | David & Steven Krupps | Mt. Sterling

2002 | Cliff Schuette | Breese

2001 | Mark Kern | Mt. Vernon

2000 | Indian Knoll Cattle Company | Taylorville

1999 | Mike & Tom Endress | Tremont

1998 | Unsicker Farms | Peoria

1997 | Bill Boston | Roodhouse

1996 | Mike Kitley | Flora

1995 | Bill Hesler | Salem

1994 | David C. Howard | Hanover

1993 | Charles Postel | Rockbridge

1992 | Midland Coal Company | Farmington

1991 | Art Farley |Mahomet

1990 | Carl Hartweg | Carthage

1989 | Walt JoAn Mary & Mark Bollman | Ava

1988 | Ray Peugh | Sterling

1987 | Ed Whitaker | Forest City

1986 | Mike & Dave McGee | Catlin

1985 | Olin & Larry Kennedy | Forest City

1984 | Ransom Tompkins | Fairview

1983 | Delmar & Joyce Nelson | Elizabethtown

1982 | Jim Neumann | Milan

1981 | Harry & Rick Kline | LeRoy

1980 | William Romersberger | Eureka

1979 | G. W. Campbell | Villa Grove

1978 | Rober & Lloyd Simon | Princeton

1977 | Doug Vandermyde | Morrison

1976 | John Jameson | Canton

2023 | The McManaway Family | Altamont

2022 | Head Bros. Land & Cattle | Blue Mound

2021 | Wildberry Farms | Scales Mound

2020 | The Sanderson Family | Clare

2019 | Hillstown Farms | Marissa

2018 | Lamoreux Farms | Lanark

2017 | Isermann Farms | Streator

2014 | Trevor Toland | Macomb

2013 | Ted Krauskopf | Highland

2012 | Larson Farms Partnership | Maple Park

2011 | Pfundstein Farms | Sterling

2010 | Funk Farms Trust | Shirley

2009 | Irl Rincker Family | Shelbyville

2008 | Ron & Jeanne Helm | Oreana

2007 | Zane & Connie Schneider | Trenton

2006 | Jim & Mary Burrus | Jacksonville

2005 | Terry & Michele Rush | Pittsfield

2004 | Bill Rudow Family | Pana

2003 | Cliff Schuette Family | Breeze

2002 | Tom & Mike Endress | Tremont

2001 | Riddell Polled Herefords | Sparland

2000 | Clarence & David Allbritten | Belknap

1999 | Otis & Otto Rincker | Strasburg

1998 | Jim Doane | Barry

1997 | Alan Adams | Sandwich

1996 | Dean Larson | Prophetstown