2021 IAW Award Winners
Illinois Agri-women presented awards at our business meeting in March. These winners were selected by nomination and the award committee. Every year IAW awards the IAW Hall of Fame, Outstanding Woman Farmer, and Outstanding Agri-Business Woman. Congratulations to all our 2021 IAW Award Winners.
Hall of Fame: Heather Hampton+Knodle
2022 – Heather Hampton+Knodle with Awards Coordinator Diana Ropp receiving the 2022 Hall of Fame Award.
Heather, husband Brian and four kids primarily raise corn, soybeans and wheat. They have a small herd of Black Angus cows, and find themselves challenged with a few goats and chickens for good measure too.
Your tireless devotion to improving and creating economic opportunities and agriculture policy is inspiring. Improving broad band access to rural areas has been on the top of Heather’s lists most recently and your timing has almost been inherent.
She’s got a fun, down to earth educational blog. And is serving as this year’s Distinguished Lectureship Speaker at the American Society of Agronomy’s Annual Meeting. Has served on the county board, created an economic development board and launched several initiatives and programs.
In between being a mom, wife, farmer, business professional, agriculture advocate and devoted daughter she assumed the role of American Agri Women President this past November.
We are so proud of you and I am confident your solid, voice for truth and what is the best result for all attitude will take AAW to a new level of industry impact yet to be seen.
Outstanding Woman Farm: Shirley Bartelt
2022 – Shirley Bartelt is awarded the Outstanding Illinois Woman Farmer
This year’s winner is Shirley Bartelt. She is an independent trailblazer devoted to service and agriculture. She has held the offices of IAW President, Vice President and Treasurer and IARC Treasurer.
In 2012 she was recognized as the IAW Outstanding Farmer and received the American Agri-Women Leaven Award in 2006. She is proud to be one of the first women to serve in an advisory capacity for her local Farm Service Agency. She has assisted with WCFA, attended numerous IAW Annual Meetings and participated in American Agri-Women National Conventions. Other volunteering has included her local church, Relay for Life, and Dixon Reagan Trail Days committee which included a ’Tiger Cruise’ on the USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN76).
An accountant by trade she grew up assisting on her family dairy and hog farm. Her future husband and business partner would attend school in another district. And two farm kids wouldn’t cross paths until travel arrangements to a Young Farmers meeting were being discussed with mutual friends at a livestock equipment auction in the neighborhood and the rest is history!
Shirley began farming with her father and when she and Duane married their operations eventually merged. They raise corn and soybeans and no longer feed cattle. They are in the process of remodeling the farmhouse on her family’s Centennial farm.
Illinois Agri Women congratulate Shirley Bartelt for being this year’s recipient and want to thank you for all the time, effort and devotion to this organization.
Outstanding Agri-Business Woman
2022 – Gayle Baker receives the Outstanding Agri-Business Woman Award
Gayle Baker is the winner of the Outstanding Agr-Business Woman. She is an agricultural engineer with Maurer-Stutz, Inc. In her position she works with farmers to plan and design livestock facilities. She also assists producers with manure handling and application for optimum nutrient utilization. She is a mother to Brooke, 5.
In Gayle’s spare time she is an active member of the IL Farm Bureau Young Leaders and her ag engineering society, ASABE. Gayle’s talents spill over into IAW and all of its projects. Gayle is co-chair of WCFA, and it is an excellent example of Gayle’s leadership skills bringing the message of agriculture to young women all over the State of IL. Gayle handles the websites for all of the IAW projects and programs as well as the social media presence. Not to mention she is excellent with graphic design whenever we need her expertise. Illinois Agri-Women, and its subsidiaries, are very blessed to have Gayle Baker on the team!
