Illinois Stewardship Alliance honors outstanding farmers
Illinois Dept. of Agriculture Director Costello presented awards to southern, central Illinois farmers on Ag Day at the Illinois State Fair
Illinois Stewardship Alliance presented two awards recognizing outstanding farmer leaders for their contribution to sustainable and local agriculture in Illinois.
Breese, Illinois farmer Cliff Schuette received the second annual Woody Woodruff Conservation Award. The award is named in memory of Robert “Woody” Woodruff, a beloved conservation leader, Macoupin County farmer, and Illinois Stewardship Alliance staff member who passed away after a battle with cancer in 2020 and recognizes a farmer who exemplifies Woody’s passion for soil, water, and community.
Urbana farmers Traci Barkley and John Williams of Sola Gratia Farm received the 2024 Local Food Changemaker of the Year Award for their exemplary leadership in growing the local food economy and helping Illinois farmers feed Illinois.
Alliance member and Harvel farmer Richard Lyons was also named the recipient of the 2024 Illinois Leopold Conservation Award®. The award honors farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in the management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land.
Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello presented the awards at the Ag Day Breakfast at the Illinois State Fair.
Congratulations to Cliff Schuette, 2024 Woody Award Winner
In honor of ISA-beloved colleague Woody Woodruff
Cliff Schuette has been farming regeneratively for over two decades. He joined the Alliance’s Soil Health Farmer Caucus, believing that healthy soil is one of the greatest legacies we can pass down to future generations. Much like Woody, Schuette understands that the mission of soil conservation extends beyond the farm.
Schuette’s dedication to conservation is evident in his participation in various groups and boards. He is actively involved with the Soil Health Farmer Caucus, advocacy days at the Capitol, his county Farm Bureau, the Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, among others. His well-rounded perspective is invaluable to the conservation community.
As a friend and mentor to many, Schuette taps into his passion for conservation, encouraging others to nurture the soil and recognize the power beneath our feet. He firmly believes in the importance of knowledge sharing and mentoring as powerful tools to expand regenerative farming practices in Illinois and beyond.
Cliff Schuette’s leadership, stewardship, and willingness to mentor farmers of all scales make him a true conservation hero. His contributions to regenerative farming and soil health exemplify the spirit of the Woody Woodruff Conservation Award.
The award was presented by Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Jerry Costello, during the Illinois State Fair’s Ag Day Breakfast in Springfield on Aug. 9, 2024.
Photo courtesy Illinois Stewardship Alliance.
