BY HANNAH SPANGLER
Illinois Farm Bureau announced 30 recipients of its 2025-26 Rural Development Grants.
Response to the program continues to grow, with 139 applications representing 64 county Farm Bureaus this year. In the 2023-24 pilot year, the program distributed $30,000 to 10 projects. For 2025-26, total funding increased to a record $120,000 through a $100,000 investment by Illinois Farm Bureau and a $20,000 contribution from COUNTRY Financial.
“Entering its third year, the Rural Development Grant program has proven to be a meaningful way for Illinois Farm Bureau to invest directly in small towns and rural communities to meet the needs of farmers and rural residents,” said Ryan Tate, IFB associate director of local government. “We set out to create an accessible grant program that could reliably support impactful projects in rural Illinois, and it’s been gratifying to see how communities have used these funds to expand services, strengthen infrastructure and improve quality of life.”
This year’s awards include nine grants specifically for emergency services, including one in Montgomery County, where the Raymond Fire Protection District received funding to replace its outdated radio system and improve communication with first responders. Fire Chief Danny McCallum said as a volunteer department in a rural district covering 127 square miles, including a stretch of Interstate 55, updated radios are essential.
“If we can find out some information ahead of time, it makes a huge difference,” he said.
As one of the 21 rural development-focused projects, the Woodlawn FFA chapter received funding to build a greenhouse at Woodlawn High School in Jefferson County. Chapter adviser Sarah Morgan said the project will help serve the community of Woodlawn, which has a population of about 700 people, by providing additional access to fresh food.
Morgan said having a greenhouse will also strengthen the school’s agriculture program through hands-on learning opportunities for her students.
“We have a basic horticulture class, but I would love to be able to have a greenhouse management class,” she said.
Another grant is going to the Clay County Food Pantry, which will purchase a refrigerated box for its delivery truck. The pantry, run by Tom Simpson and the Clay County Ministerial Alliance, is fully volunteer‑operated, and Chairman Joe Goodman said every dollar helps them better serve the 650-800 community members who visit each month.
“This was a glimmer of hope,” Goodman said of the impact of the grant. “We’ve got a good thing going, and we just want to make it stronger.”
The additional 2025-26 award recipients are:
- Coles County, Fit-2-Serve, developing a ¼ acre regenerative garden to provide nutrient-dense fresh produce for the community
- Coles County, City of Mattoon, equipping the Mattoon Police Department with automated external defibrillators
- DeKalb County, Somonauk Fire Department, purchasing battery-powered tools
- DeKalb County, Malta Fire Protection District, purchasing battery-powered rescue equipment
- DeWitt, Farm to City Harvest Store Inc, developing a farm-to-city cooperative grocery store
- Edwards County, West Salem Volunteer Fire Department, purchasing lifesaving medical equipment
- Ford-Iroquois Counties, Gibson City Restoration Association, restoring windows for the historic Burwell Building
- Franklin County, Franklin County Senior Services Inc., replacing 40-year-old equipment with a new walk-in freezer and cooler
- Fulton County, City of Cuba, providing the city with a necessary facility for an OSF mobile health care RV and storage of medical materials
- Hancock County, On Point Revival NFP, replacing the roof of the historic Saenger Halle building
- Jackson County, Grand Tower Food Pantry, helping residents gain access to fresh food
- Jefferson County, NewMed Diagnostics, implementing a mobile diagnostics initiative designed to expand access to preventive health services
- Knox County, Rio Fire Protection District, replacing mobile truck radios
- Knox County, Maquon Fire Protection District, supporting a STARCOM communication radio project
- LaSalle County, La Salle-Peru Township High School Foundation for Educational Enrichment, purchasing equipment and supplies for the school’s new agricultural program
- Macoupin County, Macoupin County Fair and Agricultural Association, renovating and expanding an existing building for year-round use
- Massac County, Massac County Youth Fair and Community Center, renovating the community center kitchen
- Montgomery County, Nokomis New Sprouts Daycare Center, installing a new playground
- Peoria County, B.Y.E. Ambulance Service Inc., improving communication with a radio project
- Piatt County, City of Monticello, implementing a downtown wireless system
- Pope-Hardin County, Arrowleaf, launching a retail merchandise assembly line at Arrowleaf’s Developmental Services site
- Sangamon County, Central Illinois FarmFED Co-operative, installing fundamental office equipment and software
- Schuyler County, Schuyler County Economic Development Commission, renovating a building to house office space for economic development staff and provide space for community meetings
- Stephenson County, Greater Freeport Partnership, supporting BASE Camp’s classes and activitiesfor entrepreneurs and small business owners
- Union County, Wolf Lake Community Center, replacing siding on the community center building
- Warren-Henderson, Central Warren County Fire Protection District, upgrading mobile radios in fire vehicles
- Woodford County, Village of Roanoke, supporting phase one of developing a vacant lot into a pocket park and green space
More information about all the grant recipients will be available soon at ilfb.org/rdgrants.