By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — “Energy & the Future: A Closer Look at Food, Feed & Fuel” was the theme for the 2008 Illinois Commodity Conference, held Nov. 25 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bloomington.
During the conference, officials with the Illinois Beef Association (IBA), Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA), Illinois Milk Producers Association (IMPA), Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Soybean Association and Illinois Wheat Association gathered to discuss important policy matters, hash out operating budgets and kibitz about the state of agriculture.

They also came to dole out annual awards to individuals and organizations that made a positive impact on agriculture during the past year, including Dave Seibert of the University of Illinois (UoI) Extension, who was presented with the conference’s 2008 Friend of Agriculture Award. Seibert, in his 41st year of employment with UoI, is an animal systems educator at the extension’s East Peoria center. His primary emphasis is adult and youth livestock educational programming in breeding programs and population genetics, along with improved management practices, livestock evaluation for composition, efficient forage utilization and consumer selection and utilization of meats. Seibert resides in Washington, Ill.

Randy Faber, president of the IBA, lauded Seibert as a true friend to the beef industry. “(Seibert) has pioneered many UoI extension beef programs. Several other states have modeled programs after these successful educational events,” Faber said.

The commodity groups also recognized Marlena Bordson of the Illinois Department of Health as a 2008 Friend of Agriculture. Doug Schneider, president of the IMPA, called Bordson a common-sense regulator who considers the family dairy farmer in her every day endeavors. “(Bordson) has strengthened Illinois’ position in the dairy industry, and has worked to ensure a safe and wholesome product is sold to consumers,” remarked Schneider. “No other regulator has that close, trusting relationship that we have enjoyed with Marlena.”

Bordson was recently appointed as a division chief with the health department after serving as dairy program manager for 14 years. She also served as regional supervisor in the campaign office, where she was certified by the FDA as a retail food evaluation officer. She resides in central Illinois.

The ICGA presented a plethora of awards including their top honor, the World of Corn Award, to Greg Guenther, a St. Clair County corn grower.

“Greg has truly put his heart and soul into serving the cause of Illinois corn growers by serving as a county leader, a state board member and officer, and even a national leader with the National Corn Growers Association,” said Art Bunting, ICGA president.
Guenther is credited with revitalizing and restructuring his local corn growers association and has been instrumental in fighting for passage of the legislation to renovate locks and dams on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers.

The ICGA presented their 2008 Ethanol Innovation Award to Jim Redding of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

“Jim was one of the first proponents of corn-based ethanol and has continued being an advocate for the industry throughout his career,” Bunting stated.

Redding has marketed and sold ethanol for most of his 25 years in the industry, serving for a time as vice president of marketing and logistics for Aventine Renewable Energy in Pekin.

The awards luncheon was hosted by noted ag broadcaster Orion Samuelson, who delivered a “State of the Industry” address regarding feed, fuel and everything in between.