Illinois Agri-Women honor outstanding members

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Three outstanding Illinois Agri-Women members were honored during the group’s annual meeting.

Receiving the annual awards this year were Hall of Fame — Patricia Yeagle; Outstanding Business Women — Deb Schultz; and Outstanding Farmer — Kristina Church Jacobs.

Patricia Yeagle

In addition to being involved with her family dairy operation and raising row crops, Yeagle is also an independent insurance agent. She is a licensed bulk tank calibrator and has worked with cheese factory testing equipment since 2001.

Yeagle is involved in her local community, serving as the leader of the Snappy Snazzers 4-H Club for 44 years.

In 2018, she received the Stephenson County 4-H Hall of Fame award, and in 2015, she was honored as the Illinoisan of the Day at the Illinois State Fair.

As a member of Illinois Agri-Women, Yeagle has held several leadership positions, including IAW president and vice president and president of the Illinois Agricultural Resource Council Inc. She has also served as the American Agri-Women vice president of education.

The national organization has recognized Yeagle for her outstanding work by presenting her with the AAW Veritas award and in 2018 with the Erickson-McCrum AAW Mentoring Award.

Deb Schultz

Schultz has worked in the banking industry for more than 30 years. Her career started from the teller line up and currently she is the vice president for North Central Bank in Hennepin and Ladd.

Schultz is a 2012 graduate of the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Program and she has held several IAW leadership positions including vice president of education, president and past president.

Married to her husband, Kevin, for almost 39 years, they are the parents of two children and enjoy spending time with their two grandsons.

The couple has created an oasis in their yard where they have turned wire corn cribs and grain bins into outdoor living spaces.

Kristina Church Jacobs

The Outstanding Farmer award honors a lady involved in production agriculture who has exemplary skills in managing and operating a farming operation.

Jacobs is manager of Oldham Farms LLC. The family farm raises green beans, corn, soybeans and seed corn for Corteva. Jacobs also has 15 years of experience working in ag retail.

Jacobs encourages young women in agriculture to keep going.

“When one door closes, knock on the next,” she said. “Keep a good circle of mentors and never ever let a male-dominated career scare you.”

New Officers

During the meeting, members elected new officers including Mariah Anderson for vice president for advocacy and Gayle Baker as the secretary.

They join officers that are currently serving, including Kelsey Neville, president; Jill Biehl, vice president of education; Anjie Erbsen, treasurer; Nathalie Schmidt, membership chair; and Deb Schultz, past president.