Illinois Farmer Selected Faces of Farming & Ranching”

Katie Pratt Selected "Faces of Farming & Ranching" and Illinois Farm Bureau thanks everyone who voted for her.

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) selected Katie Pratt (Dixon, IL) as one of the winners of its Faces of Farming & Ranching program. This nationwide search helped USFRA identify farmers who are proud of what they do and are eager to share their stories.

In December, Katie was named a finalist and the public was asked to vote for the finalist who they believed best represented American agriculture. Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) members took to their computers and cast daily votes for Katie.

"We're very proud of Katie and her family," said IFB Young Leader Manager Jennifer Smith. "She will do a great job of representing Illinois' bright future for farming. We are also thankful for everyone who voted for Katie.  I believe it's a victory for everyone involved in Illinois agriculture."

Pratt and three other winners were selected from a pool of more than 100 applicants from across the country. As one of the Faces of Farming & Ranching, Pratt will share her stories and experiences on a national stage to help answer consumers' questions about how food is grown and raised.

"With the technology that is available today, we can drive through a field on our tractor and know exactly what's happening on a square foot of ground versus an entire 80-acre field, which allows us to focus on what we need to do to make that area better than it is today," said Katie Pratt. "Fewer people are involved in farming than ever before, and as a result, we are discovering that conversations with consumers about farming are needed so that we understand their concerns, and they understand and are comfortable with the way food is grown and produced."

Katie and her husband, Andy, are seventh-generation farmers and raise corn, soybeans and seed corn at Grand Prairie Farms. They welcome tour groups to their farm as part of a family tradition, which started back in the early 1970s when Andy's grandfather hosted students from Chicago-area schools on his dairy farm. They currently farm in partnership with Andy's family and have two children. (Audio: Pratt talks about her family farm.)

Katie has been actively promoting farming for years. She serves as the Lee County Agriculture in the Classroom coordinator. Last year, she was the IFB Young Leader Discussion Meet winner for the state and runner-up for the nation. She also volunteered as a spokesperson for Illinois Farm Families, and participated in USFRA Food Dialogues.

As a Faces of Farming & Ranching winner, Pratt will receive a $10,000 stipend to help offset the time she will spend away from the farm in the coming year serving as a USFRA spokesperson.  She will also have the opportunity to direct a $5,000 donation to an agriculture-related charity.