Delegates at Illinois Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting considered seven proposals to amend IFB’s bylaws and standing policy resolutions here at the annual meeting in Chicago.
A proposal by Champaign County Farm Bureau adding a section in the bylaws that would allow delegates to remove the IFB president and vice president by a two-thirds majority vote at any annual, regular, or special meeting of the members, failed with 204 against, 83 in favor. The delegates rejected this bylaw change after I-F-B legal counsel told delegates that the proposed change didn’t include a 20 day written notice as prescribed by Illinois non-profit law.
The boards of directors of the Douglas County Farm Bureau, Moultrie County Farm Bureau and Illinois Farm Bureau proposed moving Douglas County from District 12 to District 11 as a result of the merger between the Douglas and Moultrie County Farm Bureaus, passed 272 to 8.
Christian, Lee and Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureaus together proposed renaming “associate” members to “supporting” members in name only to better reflect their role. That by law amendment failed.
IFB delegates approved leaving the joint membership option for spouses as is. But under this proposal if both spouses qualify and elect to be individual voting members, they would each pay the regular dues rate instead of one discounted rate for both memberships.
A proposal by Christian, Lee and Winnebago-Boone County Farm Bureaus, was approved redefining voting members, streamlining membership into voting and non-voting. This would combine the PMs and the MMs (farmer members) and only have one voting member class. Counties would still have the opportunity to determine eligibility requirements for a voting member. The proposal also removes the option for full-time on-farm employees and those in agriculture-related occupations to elect either a voting membership or a non-voting associate membership. A handful of lines referencing PMs also are omitted in the proposal to make clear PMs and MMs are at the same level.
Delegates approved a proposal from Clinton County Farm Bureau adding a provision to the Privilege of the Floor section of the bylaws, which would require a copy of the rules governing the delegate meeting to be provided to each county Farm Bureau at least 30 days prior to the meeting.
And IFB delegates here in Chicago approved a proposal by the Vermilion County Farm Bureau amending two standing policy resolutions pertaining to the definition of “membership in good standing” and the cancellation of membership, which would go into effect May 1, 2026. Currently, membership is deemed free from dues delinquency if the annual dues are paid within the first three months of the membership year. The proposal would now require payment to be made within the first month of the membership year. Vermilion County’s proposal also recommends terminating membership after the second month of dues delinquency, rather than after the fourth month.
Above average crowds came to Decatur Thursday for Day 3 of the Farm Progress Show. The show closes its gates for 2025 Thursday afternoon at 4. 
Farmers and attendees coming to the Farm Progress Show in Decatur this week are seeing the Illinois Corn Growers Association and the Illinois Corn Marketing Board with a major presence, at the corner of East Progress Avenue and 6th Street.
The gates opened this morning at 8am. 
The 2025 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, IL opened its gates for day one at 8am this morning.
