Akers inducted into ISPFMRA Hall of Fame

NEILLSVILE, Wis. — Lowell Akers was recently inducted into the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Hall of Fame.

A plaque marking the honor was presented to him by Russ Hiatt, Hiatt Farmland Services, Champaign, immediate-past president of the society.

“This is an especially proud day for me because I have known Lowell for many, many years,” Hiatt said. “And it’s a unique honor to give to Lowell because he’s never been actively involved as an officer, or a leading committee chair, but he’s always been here as a mentor for dozens of us and as a member who has consistently attended chapter meetings and events for decades, literally, and as an appraiser, he has been a professional of the standards — he is the level we all aspire to.”

“This is a great honor. I’ve had a wonderful career working in Illinois, have met and worked with so many great friends and hundreds of clients over the years,” Akers said.

Akers, 95, joined the Illinois Chapter and the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers in 1967.

That started a career path that found him employed by a number of companies including banks and farm management firms. He retired in 2023 as a member of the Akers Group based in Neillsville.

“I’m especially proud that my two boys, Mark and Greg, have kinda followed in my footsteps and are active in the industry today. And I have two grandchildren who are looking to go into the business, as well,” he said.

The Hall of Farm is the highest citation the chapter bestows on its members. It is typically awarded at the organization’s annual meeting, but Akers, who now lives with his son, Mark, in Neillsville in central Wisconsin, was unable to attend the ISPFMRA meeting in February.

His son, Greg, spoke on his behalf at that event. Members of the chapter’s leadership team made the trek to Neillsville and physically presented the plaque marking the citation.