ELKHART, Ill. — The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) recently announced the winners of its second annual “20 Under 40” farmer award winners. 

he 2023 winners ranged from a corn and soybean farmer in Maroa to a cattle farmer in Flat Rock. The individuals “are at the forefront of agriculture, demonstrating exemplary citizenship within their communities and serving as inspirations for their generation and the ones to come. They not only honor family traditions but also forge new paths while extending a helping hand to their neighbors,” according to contest standards. 

The young farmers were nominated for their outstanding contributions and initiatives aimed at improving both their farming operations and the well-being of their communities, according to the ISA. Selected as an award winner was Thomas Titus, a corn, soybean and pork producer from Elkhart, Illinois. 

“I’m truly honored to be included, especially since the days I’m eligible to qualify are very numbered: I just made it under the wire,” said Titus, who turns 40 in mid-September. “This is a very nice honor and I feel fortunate to be nominated and receive this award.”

Though the panel of judges who determined the 20 award winners (from more than 70 nominees) didn’t disclose to Titus the specific factors behind his selection, his past and present organizational leadership on behalf of Illinois pig, corn and soybean farmers must’ve been a factor, he said.

“I’ve been blessed to serve in a number of leadership roles and as immediate past-president of the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA), and I look forward to continuing,” said Titus, who has served in every available leadership position for the IPPA in the past decade. 

Titus earned his associate’s degree at Lakeland College and his bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois in science and economics. He is also a graduate of the National Pork Producers Council’s Pork Leadership Institute and a participant in the NPPC Pork 2050 Visioning Group.

Titus joined the Partners For Production Agriculture (PPA) team as a swine trade agent and broker working with eastern Corn Belt swine producers. He serves on the Logan County Farm Bureau and Market on the Hill Co-op Board. Titus and his wife, Brean, have two children, Reagan,12 and Lakin, who is eight. Their daughters will represent the seventh generation of his family to work on the family’s Logan County farm.

Though a committed family farmer whose children and wife are fully involved in and supportive of the day-to-day operations, Titus said that “I have a role on the farm for PPA, so I kind of wear two hats throughout the work week.” 

PPA “meshes a unique combination of accomplished industry expertise and dynamic young talent to give customers access to unparalleled industry insight on commodity management, procurement, hog marketing, and enterprise advocacy,” according to the company’s website. 

Titus is looking forward to the Loan County Fair where his children will be busy showing multiple FFA projects and entries. “We’re really involved in the Logan County fair and our family supports it in a number of ways. The county fairs are beginning to die off, so we think it is very important to support them when you can,” he said. 

As a pork producer and leader, Titus feels that one of the top U.S. animal agriculture issues that should receive more attention is increasing awareness and support of the prevention of foreign animal diseases (FADs) from entering the United States. “If a FAD does breach the United States, our trade will get reduced to near-zero. As an exporter of pork whose (product) goes into other countries, we rely pretty heavily on the export demand that we have. We have to be very diligent that we are following biosecurity protocol, and at same time work with our state associations and veterinarians to utilize the proper emergency protocol if a FAD were to enter our country,” he said. 

Steve Pitstick, Chairman of the Illinois Soybean Association, emphasized the significance of acknowledging the emerging leaders in agriculture. He credits the program for empowering young farmers. “Enabling these future leaders to take charge and forge their own paths ensures a promising future,” said Pitstick, in an ISA news release.

The following are recipients of the 2023 ISA 20 Under 40 Award:

Adam Holste, Altamont

Austin O’Neall, Le Roy  

Cassandra Schleich, Monmouth 

Chase Brown, Warrensburg

Cody White, Clinton

Daniel Elmer Grebner, Metamora

Ellen Rahn, Mount Carroll

Erick Kane, Ottawa

Jake Perino, Deer Grove

Nik Jakobs, Sterling

Jeffery Landers, Mendota

Jarod Stock, Beardstown

Justin Rahn, Mount Carroll

Kate Huffman, Galva

Kayla Gallagher, Mansfield

Rosalie Trump, Clare

Seth Lambert, Maroa

Thomas Titus, Elkhart

Thomas Weger, Flat Rock

Bill McDonnell, Ottawa