Emily Hansen is a Commercial Agriculture Educator serving LaSalle, Bureau, Marshall, and Putnam counties. In her role, Emily develops and delivers research-based programs to growers, collaborates with community partners, and extends University resources to address a wide range of agricultural topics.

Emily graduated with her master’s degree in biological sciences in the behavior, ecology, evolution, and systematics sequence from Illinois State University. During her time at ISU, Emily engaged in impactful research exploring the influence of cover crops on soil microbial communities. She has a passion for regenerative agriculture and soil science.

Emily comes from a farming family, having farmed in the Grundy County area for five generations. She attended Lewis University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences in 2019.

Emily is excited to share her expertise and knowledge with diverse audiences and help bridge the gap between research and practical application while empowering growers to make informed and sustainable choices. Emily can be reached at the Illinois Extension office housed at Illinois Valley Community College, 815 N. Orlando Smith Rd., Room C223 in Oglesby or by calling (815) 224-0896. Her email address is emhansen@illinois.edu.