IFB Young Leader Committee Welcomes New Leaders, New Ideas

Some new Young Leaders are taking the helm for the Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader Committee in 2013. The new team met at the IFB building last Thursday and Friday and is already tapping into new ideas and new energy.

The committee is made up of 18 Young Leaders, one for each district in Illinois. The Executive Team has six members who help lead the state committee on events, programs, and competitions held throughout the year, such as Harvest f,or All, Discussion Meet, Agri-Quiz Bowl, and Young Leader Conference.

Brent Pollard, from Rockford in Winnebago County, takes over as Chair from Monica Stevens, of Knox County. Stevens was recognized for her hard work at the 2012 IFB Annual Meeting this past December in Chicago.

Front Row: Jared Finegan, Vice Chairman; Matt Rush, Secretary. Back Row: Brent Pollard, YL Chairman; Dale Pitstick, Chairman of the Governmental Affairs Subcommittee; Matthew Starr, Chairman of the Achievement Subcommittee; and John Klemm, Chairman of the Education and Recruitment Subcommittee. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

Other officers include Jared Finegan, from Ashkum in Ford County, Vice Chair; Matt Rush, from Fairfield in Wayne County, Secretary; Matthew Starr, from Nauvoo in Hancock County, Achievement Subcommittee Chair; John Klemm, from Lincoln in DeWitt County, Education and Recruitment Subcommittee Chair; and Dale Pitstick, from Genoa in Kane County, Governmental Affairs & Commodities Subcommittee Chair.

The 2013 Young Leader Committee includes:

District 1:       Dale Pitstick
District 2:       Brent Pollard
District 3:       Todd VerHeecke
District 4:       Evan Hultine
District 5:       Jim Hopkins
District 6:       Jared Finegan
District 7:       Ryan Voorhees
District 8:       Keith Mellert
District 9:       Matthew Starr
District 10:     Jenny Dolaz
District 11:     John Klemm
District 12:     Doug Kirk
District 13:     Loren Dickirson
District 14:     Allen Kasten
District 15:     Daniel Gvillo
District 16:     Chris Otten
District 17:     Matt Rush
District 18:     Gary Tretter

Here's to a new year, new ideas, and new enthusiasm! Visit the Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader website or join them on Facebook to connect with ideas and innovations to come.