2024: Kay Shipman, Legislative Affairs Editor, Illinois Farm Bureau FarmWeek Now
2023: Deborah Gertz Husar, Farm Editor, Quincy Herald-Whig
2022: Tony Graves, Illinois Milk Producers Association Board of Director
2021: Martha Blum, Field Editor, Illinois Agrinews
2019: Rich Guebert, Illinois Farm Bureau President
2016: Lowell Lenschow, Illinois Specialty Growers, Illinois Wheat Association, Illinois Farm Bureau
2014: John and Susan Adams
2013: Philip Nelson, Past President, Illinois Farm Bureau
2012: Dennis Thompson, Illinois Crop Improvement Association
2011: Tom Jennings, Director, Illinois Department of Agriculture
2010: Warren Goetsch, Illinois Department of Agriculture
2010: Senator John Sullivan (D), 47th Illinois District
2008: Pam Weber, lobbyist, Springfield
2007: Congressman Ray LaHood
2007: Congressman Dennis Hastert
2006: Jeanne Harland, Extension Partners organization
2005: Kevin Conerton, Illinois Agri-News
2004: Ron Warfield, past President, Illinois Agriculture Association
2003: Judith Joy, farm news writer, The Morning Sentinel, Marion, IL
2003: Peggy Kaye, Public Relations & Legislative Coordinator w/Farm Credit Services, past radio broadcaster
2002: John White Jr., past Vice-President and President, IAA
2001: Joe Hampton, Jr., Director, Illinois Department of Agriculture
2000: Ken Bolen, retired Director of Extension, Nebraska; Agriculture Extension Adviser, Illinois
2000: John Huston, Chair, Livestock & Meat Board: Chair, Chancellor's Commission on Extension
1999: Becky Doyle, former Director, Illinois Department of Agriculture
1998: Larry Fischer, John Wood College
1997: Max Armstrong, WGN Radio & Channel Earth TV
1996: Colleen Callahan, WMBD TV & Radio
1995: Gordon Ropp, State Representative and Director, Illinois Department of Agriculture
1994: Jim Shearl, Executive Director, Illinois Crop Improvement Association; Agriculture Extension Adviser, Illinois
1993: Senator Vince Demuzio, Illinois General Assembly, 49th district
1992: Warren Pufahl, Illinois Agri-News
1991: Dr. George Kapusta, Weed Scientist, Southern Illinois University
1990: Pat Johnson, Brownstown Research Center
1989: Jim Lilly, editor, Prairie Farmer
1988: Harold Dodd, Illinois Farmers Union
1987: Leonard Gardner, Legislative Affairs Director, Illinois Agricultural Association
1986: Jack Rundquist, past director, Illinois Department of Agriculture
1985: Paul Findley, Congressman, 20th District, Illinois, United States House of Representatives
1984: William Kuhfuss, Illinois Agricultural Association & American Farm Bureau Federation
1983: Glenn Webb, President, GROWMARK, Inc.
1982: Dick Herm, livestock commission company, Peoria Union Stock Yards
1982: Bob Hardy, KMOX Radio, St. Louis
1981: Juett C. Hogancamp, Illinois Department of Agriculture
1980: Dr. Paul Doby, state veterinarian, Illinois Department of Agriculture
1980: Harold Kuehn, Chair, Illinois Soybean Association & American Soybean Association, Du Quoin, IL
1978: Dean Searls, Illinois Farm Electrification Council
1977: Charles Shuman, Sr., Past President, American Farm Bureau Federation
1976: Harold Steele, president, Illinois Agricultural Association
1975: Alex Reed, Southern Illinois University
1975: Orien Samuelson, WGN radio and TV
1974: James Thompson, editor, Prairie Farmer
1973: Harry Russell, University of Illinois
1973: Richard Orr, Chicago Tribune
1972: Illinois Agricultural Association (IAA)
1971: Laura Weber, Weber Scholarships
1970: Paul Johnson, Prairie Farmer
1969: Earl Hughes, President, Board of Trustees, University of Illinois
Special Recognition
2001USDA National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research Laboratory, Peoria (Over 60 Years of Outstanding Research), presented to Peter Johnsen, Director of the Lab