Illinois e-News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 1, 2025

Jim Raftis 217.524.1083

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Eligible wheat producers interested in becoming a candidate for the Illinois Wheat Development Board can request nominating petitions beginning August 1, 2025.

“I encourage interested producers to engage in this process, to take an active role in shaping the future of the wheat industry,” said Jerry Costello II, Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. “As the 10th largest producer of wheat in the U.S., Illinois holds a strong position with great potential for growth.”

Those interested can obtain petitions from the Illinois Wheat Association or the Illinois Department of Agriculture. The deadline to return completed petitions to Illinois Department of Agriculture is September 15, 2025.

Interested producers must be of legal voting age and be affected producers of wheat residing in the district for which they are nominated. Petitions must contain the signature of at least 50 or 5%, whichever is less of the eligible producers residing in the candidate’s district. Affected producers may also request petitions to become a candidate for (3) three, at-large board member positions. Candidate petitions must carry the signature of at least 50 or 5%, whichever is less of the affected producers statewide.

The Illinois Wheat Development Board election will be held on October 30, 2025. 

For more information, call the Illinois Department of Agriculture at (217) 524-1083 or the Illinois Wheat Association at (309) 557-3619.

Illinois Wheat Development Board Representative Districts:

District I: Adams, Boone, Brown, Bureau, Carroll, Cass, Christian, Cook, DeKalb, DeWitt, DuPage, Ford, Fulton, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, McLean, Menard, Mercer, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Piatt, Pike, Putnam, Rock Island, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Warren, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago, Woodford Counties

District II: Bond, Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, St. Clair Counties

District III: Champaign, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Lawrence, Marion, Moultrie, Richland, Shelby, Vermilion Counties

District IV: Clinton, Jefferson, Washington Counties

District V: Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Randolph Counties

District VI: Alexander, Clay, Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White, Williamson Counties