The Chicago Farmers

Dakota Schaumburg currently serves on the board of directors for . She works as a farm manager and real estate broker for Hertz Farm Management, Inc. Dakota is licensed in Illinois and Indiana, and she is based in the Kankakee, Illinois, office for Hertz. Her primary area of operation is eastern Illinois and western Indiana.

Dakota grew up on a small cattle and grain farm in Iroquois County, Illinois, and she earned her agricultural business and management degree from Illinois State University after studying agriculture at Joliet Junior College. Her experience with farm management and ownership aligns with interests represented within The Chicago Farmers membership.

Our sincere thanks to Old National Bank, a gold-level sponsor for . This support brings high-quality informational programs and tours to the Chicagoland agribusiness community. We appreciate you!

Martha King currently serves on the board of directors for . In her role at Totem Ltd., she co-leads global, multi-stakeholder initiatives in the food and agriculture sector.
She is also a co-founder of the Collaboratory for Open Systems & Software in Ag & Food (COSSAF) and is a partner in a family farming enterprise in central Illinois. Martha earned her bachelor's degree from Purdue University, her master’s degree from Saint Louis University and her MBA from Loyola University Chicago.

In the past, she led initiatives in digital agriculture, agricultural trade, and sustainability as vice president of programs and projects for the Farm Foundation. Martha has organized events and conferences around the globe and was instrumental in the development of multiple successful programs to develop the next generation of food and agriculture industry leaders. She also worked in higher education in Chicago.

Her experience in food and agriculture aligns with the goals of The Chicago Farmers.

Our program year wrapped up last week with a discussion of trends in renewable energy development projects and how they influence agricultural land use. Check out highlights, and plan to join us when our monthly luncheons resume in September: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chicago-farmers_thechicagofarmers-activity-7462849747771363328-U2Lc?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAgKZqkBCUgx-sXC9cZpcPW7PwoTbdIEAjc

Jeff Johnson currently serves on the board of directors for . As president of V. Formusa Company and a proud fourth-generation leader in this family business and part of a family that owns farmland across Illinois, he remains deeply connected to agriculture. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Jeff earned his degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. V. Formusa is best known for its flagship brand, Marconi Foods, a specialty foods line that includes Marconi Giardiniera, a staple in Chicago’s culinary heritage.

Jeff shares a deep appreciation for The Chicago Farmers’ mission of education and agricultural advocacy. His passion for agribusiness, generational stewardship and innovation make him a strong contributor to the organization’s future growth and vision.

Don’t miss our annual meeting on May 11!

We will get an overview of trends in renewable energy development projects and how they influence agricultural land use from Bill Bodine, director of business and regulatory affairs for . He will also highlight economic and policy factors behind the growth of wind, solar and other renewable energy projects. Plus, we will vote on the board slate for the coming year.

Register and join us at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago at 11:30 a.m., Monday, May 11: https://chicagofarmers.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=150&ts=1773771017

The landscape of energy is shifting toward renewable sources. But wind, solar and other renewable energy projects need space. What does that mean for farmland owners? Bill Bodine, director of business and regulatory affairs for , will share current trends and considerations at our next luncheon.

Plan to join us for his insights and our annual meeting, Monday, May 11, at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. https://chicagofarmers.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=150&ts=1773771017

The landscape of energy is shifting toward renewable sources. But wind, solar and other renewable energy projects need space. What does that mean for farmland owners? Bill Bodine, director of business and regulatory affairs for Illinois Farm Bureau, will share current trends and considerations at our next luncheon.

Plan to join us for his insights and our annual meeting, Monday, May 11, at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. https://chicagofarmers.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=150&ts=1773771017

A big thanks to , a gold-level sponsor for ! With this support, we deliver high-quality, informative programs and tours for the Chicagoland agribusiness community. We value your partnership!

Jim Ferguson currently serves on the board of directors for . He graduated from Illinois State University and followed a career in law enforcement with a second career in farmland real estate.

Jim is committed to The Chicago Farmers because it is a welcoming community of landowners, farmers, industry professionals and people who share a genuine interest in agriculture. He describes the events throughout the year as fun, informative, and a great way to meet like-minded people with a common passion for stewardship and learning.