Madison County farmer invests in next generation of ag leaders

By HANNAH SPANGLER

FarmWeek

With one of his final gifts, the late Gene Daiber is planting seeds for the next generation of agriculture leaders in the St. Louis metro area.

As part of Gene Daiber’s estate plan, a generous gift to the IAA Foundation will be awarded over the next 10 years, supporting scholarships for graduating high school seniors and current college students from Madison, St. Clair and Bond counties who are pursuing an agriculture degree in a wide variety of career fields, from trades to postdoctoral work. It’s the first time the IAA Foundation has been asked to distribute such a substantial estate gift within a decade.

“This will have a lasting impact for generations,” said Eric DeMange, president of the Madison County Farm Bureau. “These kids are going to get started on the right track.”

Gene Daiber, a lifelong farmer and 25-year member of the Madison County Farm Bureau board, was born in Highland and grew up on his family’s farm near Marine. After graduating from Triad High School in 1961, he farmed alongside his mother for a decade before taking over full ownership and operation of the farm until his retirement in 2014.

“He never stopped learning and never stopped bettering himself,” DeMange said, adding that Daiber also served on the county’s soil and water board, was active in his church and community, and was given the Madison County member loyalty award in 2022.

His wife, Lillian, whom he married in 1984, described him as a quiet leader known for his meticulous recordkeeping and deep commitment to lifelong learning. He also served as a mentor for young farmers as well as other kids in the neighborhood.

That passion for mentoring and investing in the next generation is at the heart of the scholarship’s mission. Lillian said she hopes the scholarship inspires students to value hard work and recognize its potential to help others. She added that the gift. of an undisclosed amount, also reflects Gene’s commitment to stewardship, a value the couple lived by every day on the farm.

“We had a shared value of stewardship and taking care of everything,” she said.

In addition to honoring Gene Daiber’s values, the scholarship is designed to help remove financial barriers to education. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average total cost of an in-state degree at a public institution in 2025 is $108,584 for a four-year degree and $34,878 for a two-year degree, not including transportation costs and daily living expenses.

Claire Geiger, who teaches at Highland High School in Madison County, said her students often share how finances have a major influence on their career decisions. When that factor is eliminated, new opportunities become possible. Any amount of financial assistance can make a meaningful difference in helping students reach their goals.

The IAA Foundation scholarship program has continued to grow and evolve, expanding its reach and impact across Illinois. With each new gift, like Gene Daiber’s, the program strengthens its mission to invest in the future of agriculture through education.

“The simple fact of the matter is, education is expensive and helping to remove that piece is life-changing,” Geiger said.

Gene Daiber included the scholarship in his estate plan to ensure he could help future generations, though he left the timing of the donation up to his wife. Lillian Daiber said he “didn’t want any accolades while he was living,” but wanted the gift to make a difference after he was gone. When faced with the choice to wait until after her death or donate now, and considering the uncertain future of farmland in the area, she decided, “Why wait?”

“When the opportunity came up (to donate), it just seemed like the right thing to do,” she said.

Susan Moore, director of the IAA Foundation, said Gene Daiber’s gift reflects a deeper commitment than just financial support. His carefully crafted plans outlined a clear vision while allowing the flexibility needed to award scholarships in a way that honors both his intentions and timing.

Gene Daiber’s name will soon be added to the Farming Legacy wall in the IAA building, joining others who have made lasting contributions, including Jean Stubblefield, Jacqueline Thomas, and Herman and Cecilia Wiedle. Daiber’s FFA jacket was also accepted into the Foundation’s permanent archives, where his story will continue to inspire future generations.

“Each year, over the next decade, we will be able to celebrate the generosity of Mr. Daiber,” Moore said about the donation. “His gift is already reshaping how we think about scholarships, and how quickly we can make a difference. That’s the Daiber effect.”

This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow.com.