Hultine ‘delighted, excited’ to take on IFB vice president role

CHICAGO — Evan Hultine can relate to what the then-vice president of Illinois Farm Bureau was going through six years ago.

“I’m glad you said you had to pinch yourself six years ago. I think that’s pretty much how I’m feeling right now,” said Hultine, shortly after being elected as the new vice president of IFB.

Hultine was referring to new IFB President Brian Duncan’s description of his own first moments as vice president.

“Six years ago, I stood in front of you all after I was elected vice president and I had to keep pinching myself,” Duncan said.

Embracing leadership roles in IFB is not anything new for the Bureau County farmer. Hultine is the president of Bureau County Farm Bureau and the former chairman of the Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader Committee.

He said he is excited to get to work with Duncan to address some of the priority policy issues identified by delegates at the IFB’s Annual Meeting in Chicago.

“I’m just delighted and excited and ready to get to work,” he said.

Hultine said the relationships he’s made in IFB have been an inspiration.

“The friendships I’ve made through this organization are what drive me to go further and strive for new leadership roles,” he said.

He has served as Bureau County Farm Bureau president for seven years. During that time, he served on the Farm Bureau Issues Advisory Committee.

Hultine was named the 2022 Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader Achievement Award winner.

“I have done a whole host of the opportunities that Farm Bureau has to offer,” he said.

Hultine is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in horticulture. He farms near Princeton and raises corn, seed corn and soybeans.

“My farm operation is in good hands, we have a good crew of guys who help us out, retired guys. My dad still is involved,” said the son of Lynn and Kathy Hultine of rural Princeton, joking that his father was a “farmer emeritus.”

Hultine said he has plenty of help and is ready for his new responsibilities.

“I have a passion for this and I care about it and we are going to make it through and everything is going to be just fine,” he said.