University of Illinois Extension is pleased to announce the appointment of Tara Heath as the new County Director for Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren counties. Heath will assume the role when Lisa Torrance, who has served Extension with distinction for 24 years, retires at the end of April.
Torrance leaves behind a legacy of strong community partnerships and impactful local programming. “It has been an honor to serve these communities for more than two decades,” Torrance said. “I am grateful for the people I’ve worked alongside and proud of what we’ve accomplished together. Tara brings deep experience, strong leadership, and a genuine passion for this region. I know the unit will be in excellent hands.”
A Leader with Deep Agricultural Roots
Heath’s connection to agriculture runs both deep and personal. Growing up on a family farm, she developed early experience in production agriculture—experience she continues to build on today. “Agriculture has always been at the heart of who I am,” Heath said. “Outside of work, you’ll still find me on our family farm, especially during harvest, helping with everything from fieldwork to meal delivery.”
Professionally, Heath brings more than 20 years of landscape management and supervisory experience, including her role as Superintendent of Grounds at Western Illinois University. She joined Illinois Extension in 2021 as the horticulture program coordinator for Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell counties, where she supported the Master Gardener program. After completing her Master of Science degree, she transitioned into the role of Commercial Agriculture Educator, focusing on agronomy, crop sciences, regenerative agriculture, and Annie’s Project coordination.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in agriculture (horticulture emphasis) from Western Illinois University and a Master of Science in crop sciences from the University of Illinois. In 2025, she earned her Certified Crop Adviser certification from the American Society of Agronomy.
A Vision Centered on People and Community
As County Director, Heath plans to prioritize the people who make Extension’s work possible. “Extension thrives because of strong relationships,” she said. “My focus will be supporting our staff, volunteers, and community partners—ensuring they feel connected, valued, and empowered to serve.”
She also looks forward to engaging in long-standing community traditions. “Events like the 4-H Barbecue and Farm Safety Day are part of the fabric of this region,” Heath said. “I’m excited to join in that work and continue building on the strong foundation Lisa has created. I’m grateful to work alongside her during this transition.”
For Heath, this role is especially meaningful. “What I’m looking forward to most is returning to my hometown of Macomb to continue this impactful work,” she said. “Through my time in Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell counties, I’ve seen firsthand how Extension strengthens people and communities. Serving the community where I grew up is something I’ve always hoped for, and I’m honored to take on this role.”
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.