The IARC Board members included Shirley Bartelt, Katie Betz, Lynn Curry, Penny Lauritzen, Krista Robertson, Nathalie Schmidt, Haley Underwood, Denise Smith, Shelley Wintjen, Susan Wall, and IAW Liaison, Immediate Past President Deb Schultz. The Executive Board was Penny Lauritzen, President, Krista Robertson, Vice-President, Haley Underwood, Secretary, Nathalie Schmidt, Treasurer and Kristina Church-Jacobs, Immediate Past President. New officers for the 2025 – 2026 fiscal year are Krista Robertson, President, and Katie Betz, Vice-President. Nathalie Schmidt will continue as Treasurer and Haley Underwood as Secretary for the remaining year of their respective terms.
Two new IARC Board members begin their two-year terms at the February Annual Meeting. Shirley Bartelt, Katie Betz, Haley Underwood presented the slate, which was approved, at the January Board Meeting. The new members are Shelby Leick and Susan Dodsworth. We want to express our sincere appreciation to retiring Board members Shirley Bartelt and Lynn Curry. Shirley will continue to assist Nathalie in reviewing bank statements and Lynn will continue to support Denise Smith with the Scholarship committee.
Board meetings were held:
- June 5, 2024
- July 3, 2024
- November 6, 2024
- January 8, 2025
- Annual Meeting – February 6, 2025
The new Board President and Board will establish the 2025 Schedule for Board meetings.
Lynn Curry and Denise Smith, Scholarship Co-Chairs, completed the selection process and presentation of awards for four 2024 Agent of Change Scholarship winners and the 2024 Helen Henert Agriculture Education Scholarship Winner. The news releases have been created and distributed.
Following a very successful Women Changing the Face of Agriculture at Southern Illinois University on Friday, March 1, 2024. Gayle Baker continues to chair the monthly zoom calls on the second Thursday of each month. We look forward to the opportunity to return to SIU for the 16th Annual WCFA Event on March 7, 2025 and then on to Heartland Community College beautiful new agriculture facilities in 2026 and 2027.
All projects submitted to IAW for approval and passed to IARC were reviewed and approved in 2024.
The Scholarship Fund currently stands at $1500 for the 2025 Helen Henert Agriculture Education Scholarship ($1500).
The Project Fund currently stands at approximately $2,000. These funds have been committed to the FFA Job Interview CDE ($1000/year for 2 more years)
The Members Scholarship Fund currently stands at $1,300. IAW members have the opportunity to request financial assistance to cover registration, travel or hotel.