Tim Harris inducted into ISPFMRA Hall of Fame

EAST PEORIA, Ill. — Over his 30-year career, Tim Harris has never strayed far from his multigenerational family farm southeast of Princeton, but his volunteer work for various organizations and his impact expands far beyond Bureau County.

The Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers honored Harris for his work by inducting him into the organization’s Hall of Fame during the annual conference. Feb. 6.

“This is an honor that I didn’t think I would ever receive, but it’s an honor that I treasure so much,” he said after the awards ceremony.

“This organization is just full of people who want to work together for a common cause, so many friends and relationships we’ve made not only locally, but through the American Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, as well.

“All of us are volunteers to help this organization continue to provide resources and educational opportunities that make us all better at the profession we do and be the professionals we need to be for those who we are working for.

“I’m very thankful to this organization and its leadership. It’s been a great organization and I look forward to many more years serving this organization.”

Harris is executive manager at Capital Agricultural Property Services, an accredited farm manager licensed in Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota and also a licensed Illinois auctioneer.

He has served on numerous ISPFMRA committees since joining the organization in 1995, including president in 2021.

Harris received his associate’s degree from Illinois Valley Community College in agribusiness.

He was a member of the class of 2000 in the Illinois Ag Leadership program and served as president of the Alumni Board from 2006 to 2012. He is also a graduate of the Farm Bureau Agricultural Leadership of Tomorrow leadership program.

Harris serves as a trustee for Greenfield Retirement Home in Princeton, Princeton Community Band board and Princeton Fire Protection District. He was past president of the Princeton Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church where he served as church chair.

Harris has been a Bureau County Farm Bureau member since 1976, serving as treasurer in 1999 and vice president in 2000-2001.

Career Path

Prior to his farm management career, Harris had a dairy operation on the family farm for 20 years. He continues to be involved on the family’s grain farming operation.

A course in college sparked his interest in a new career.

“One of the courses that I took was farm management and it was probably one of the most enjoyable classes that I had. Then the opportunity came up to work for a local farm management company and I thought, maybe this makes some sense, I can still be close to the farm and be connected,” Harris said.

“It’s just kind of evolved from there and kept expanding and it’s been a great career.”

His first farm management job was for Larson Farm Management in Princeton and he then moved on to the local bank for six and a half years. He’s now been with Capital Agricultural Property Services for a little over 16 years, expanding from farm management into real estate and now doing some land auctions, as well.

Advantages

ISPFMRA provides continuing education opportunities, as well as networking with peers, some of who may be “competitors,” yet members all have the same goal of providing professional services, Harris said.

“All of us do the same thing and some of us are even in the same geographic area, but we all work together. It’s very unusual, looking at other businesses and things that people do — this group respects each other. They’re still competition, but we all respect each and respect what we each do,” he said.

Harris has seen numerous changes in the business of the past three decades.

“The education process that I went through to get my AFM has changed so much now with the computer and all of the stuff that we can do,” he said.

“Obviously, COVID created more issues for members to try to be able to keep ourselves educated. Our younger members are encouraging that and helping the more senior members of the organization adapt online practices, so we’re staying current to where we need to be in our business.”

Harris continues to be involved in the state and national organizations. He is currently on the Land Values Conference advertising team.

He’s been on the ISPFMRA membership committee and is in his first year on the national organization’s governmental affairs team.

“I can’t recall all of them, but I’ve served on various committees anytime something comes up. I try to get involved where I can,” he said.