Taylor ICGA Media Award recipient

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The Illinois Corn Growers Association’s 2024 Excellence in Media Award was presented to Jim Taylor, a reporter on the RFD Radio Network, at the ICGA annual meeting.

The award is given each year to an individual who promotes Illinois agriculture and, specifically, Illinois corn and corn farmers, through their coverage in traditional media or through their engagement on social media.

“We very much appreciate Jim’s style of reporting that makes conversation easy and difficult issues simple,” said Dave Rylander, ICGA president and farmer from Victoria.

“Throughout his many years of service in the radio industry, and the most recent years in service of farmers and agriculture specifically, Jim remains a dedicated voice for the people. We are honored to recognize this service with the ICGA Media Award.”

Taylor, from Aledo, serves as a host of RFD Today and covers ag policy, markets and the many issues facing farmers and rural Illinois.

He especially enjoys celebrating youth in agriculture and has been recognized by the Illinois Leadership Council for Agricultural Education with its Excellence in Media Award. He has also received an Honorary State FFA Degree for media coverage of FFA activities around the state.

“I am pleased to think that my collaboration with colleagues Rita Frazer and DeLoss Jahnke has made RFD Radio a leader in ag broadcasting. I am grateful for the recognition of my work and wish to share this award with my father, a longtime employee at International Harvester, and my mother who is the shining light and glue of our family,” Taylor said.

Taylor began his radio career in 1990 at RFD Radio affiliate WRMJ in Aledo, where he served as news and sports director. He was recognized numerous times by the Illinois Broadcasters Association for his news and sports reporting.

He continues to broadcast local high school sports and has received the Illinois High School Association’s Distinguished Media Service Award, the Friends of Athletics Award from Illinois Athletic Directors Association and the Sportsperson of the Year Award from the Illinois Softball Coaches Association.

Taylor was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame for his media work and just received a career achievement award from the IBCA called the Herrins’ Award.

His proudest accomplishment is being a father to Ty, of WRMJ radio; Tess, a labor and delivery nurse in the Quad Cities; Tatum, a Golden Apple scholar at Augustana College; and Teagan, a multisport student athlete and FFA member at Mercer County High School.

Taylor is a graduate of Alleman High School and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.