Farm Credit Honors Young & Beginning Farmers
Three young farmer couples from central and southern Illinois were named FreshRoots Directors Cup honorees this week by Farm Credit Illinois. Recipients Colten and Colby Collier of Anna, Josh and Hannah Sawyer of Oakley, and Eric and Morgan Wolff of Effingham were recognized by the Association’s Board of Directors in Mahomet on Wednesday, July 23.
The Directors Cup presented by the cooperative board celebrates young and beginning farmers committed to continuous learning and intentional living for a brighter future for their farm family business and community. Honorees will receive $5,000 and a commemorative keepsake.
Colten & Colby Collier of Anna began farming in 2009 as third-generation farmers. Colby works on the farm full-time and Colten works on the farm part-time while also taking on a role off the farm as a livestock production specialist. The Colliers raise beef cattle, silage, and hay in Union County.
“It is an honor to receive the Directors Cup and be recognized for our work. We really appreciate the relationship we have with the people at FCI and the support they’ve provided,” says Colten and Colby.
Josh & Hannah Sawyer of Oakley began farming in 2016 as first-generation farmers. Josh works full-time on the farm and Hannah teaches agriculture while also contributing to the farm and raising their two sons. The Sawyers raise cattle, corn, soybeans, hay, and wheat in Macon County.
“The FreshRoots program has been invaluable as it’s helped us build our cattle-producing dream. It is a big honor to be chosen for this award,” says Josh and Hannah.
Eric & Morgan Wolff of Effingham began farming in 2020 alongside Eric’s brother on their third-generation dairy farm. Eric farms full-time and Morgan works off the farm at a local ag cooperative while raising their son. The Wolffs raise dairy cattle, corn, soybeans, wheat, and alfalfa in Effingham County.
“We’re so thankful for every opportunity we’ve been given through FCI. We wouldn’t have been able to pick up on the farm without the FreshRoots program,” says Eric and Morgan.
Cooperative members were selected by a panel of seven industry representatives including one FCI board member based on a combination of each applicant’s unique farm beginnings, personal and business aspirations, and vision for their farm business and community.
“Supporting the next generation is a top priority for our cooperative,” says Steve Hettinger, FCI Board Chair and Champaign County farmer. “The Board of Directors commends these young leaders for their dedication to lifelong learning and intentional living as they strive towards a brighter future.”
The Directors Cup award is part of Farm Credit’s FreshRoots young and beginning farmers program, which provides lending assistance and up to $2,000 in learning incentives to farmers up to age 40 or in their first 10 years of farming.
“FCI is committed to cultivating personal growth and professional development for young and beginning farmers,” says Kelly Hunt, FCI CEO. “The FreshRoots Directors Cup is one tangible example of FCI’s dedication to Helping the Next Generation of Farm Families Succeed.”
Farm Credit Illinois (FCI) is an agricultural financial cooperative owned by more than 17,100 farmer, rural landowner, and agribusiness voting stockholders in the southern 60 counties of Illinois. Dedicated to Helping Farm Families Succeed, FCI provides competitive and flexible financing, crop insurance expertise, and Rural 1st® country life lending. FCI manages an $8 billion loan portfolio, sells 1.5 million acres of crop insurance coverage, and employs approximately 300 staff in the Mahomet headquarters and 14 regional offices. The Association returned $35 million of 2024 earnings as cash patronage to member-borrowers in June. The U.S. Farm Credit System is a network of locally owned cooperatives supporting rural communities, farm families, and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services today and tomorrow.
