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Todd stein[acher]

Passionate About Helping Others Succeed

We may spend our time working, but what we are really doing is building a legacy that can be passed on for future generations. Legacy can be passing on knowledge, showing people how to be kind or building a family farm that will one day be passed down through the family.

When I was younger, I wanted nothing more than to be farming with my Dad and Grandfather, which was a primary reason why I attended college to not only gain greater knowledge but to have an off farm job to purchase the family farm if and when the opportunity arose. Unfortunately, my family did not have a progressive succession plan that would allow for the farm legacy to be passed on and the family farm was sold.

 

I knew that I still wanted to be engaged in production agriculture and to help people build and protect their legacy. This is why I have spent my career learning as much as possible about the limiting factors of yield, to better influence key decisions.

 

In 2018, I was offered an amazing opportunity to travel to Zambia Africa to be a part of an Agriculture Technical Training team. Our goal was to improve food security in the remote village of Chunghwa. A team of three - 1 Illinois Farmer and 2 Illinois CCA's - spent 1-on-1 time with local farmers to better understand their production challenges and struggles so that we could develop a robust plan. Agronomy education was at the foundation of our project, where we developed training programs and in field demonstrations to improve their knowledge of growing a crop.

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Even after the first year, there was profound production improvement, which means improved food security. Since then, the program has grown to include more local farmers, more equipment, and more knowledge. One farmer took ahold of our efforts very aggressively and was able to increase corn grain production to a point where he was able to start a chicken farm. This allowed him to sell meat at the market and restaurants, but more significantly, was able to introduce animal protein to his family.

 

I have a passion for learning about different ways to approach modern production farming from a holistic standpoint, not just year-to-year or cost-to-income. To be successful and pass on a legacy, one must think and act differently. Different...yes, it can be amusing to others looking in and it can be an uncomfortable feeling. However, the long-term success will show a bountiful harvest for the future generations.

 

In 2020, Adrienne and I got married with all of our Friends and Family present to share in the celebration not only for the day, but for the legacy that could be created through our deep bond. Adrienne and I both come from big families rooted in Faith and Farming. Even though we don’t directly farm ourselves, we still have a desire to be a voice to advocate for good agronomic practices and thoughtful succession planning that will support a great legacy.

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Awards

Involvement in Ag Industry

  • State FFA Job Interview Contest Judge

  • National FFA Agronomy Contest Judge

  • Numerous Section and District Record Book Judge

  • PAS Judge Agronomy and Sales

  • Illinois CCA Board Member

  • Western Illinois University School of Agriculture Advisory Board Member

  • Alpha Tau Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho, Alumni Board Member

  • Carrollton Square Initiative Board Member

  • 2020 US Congressional Visit: Advocating and Educating Congress on the Importance of Agronomic Research Funding at Universities

  • Guest Speaker for grade schools, high schools, junior colleges and universities

  • Guest speaker at Farm Journal Events

  • Guest speaker for Illinois Soybean Association

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