ISPFMRA honors Hopkins, Bernhard

EAST PEORIA, Ill. — The Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers honored two individuals for their contributions to agriculture and the profession at the group’s recent annual meeting.

Alan Hopkins received the Service to Agriculture Award, ISPFMRA’s top honor to a non-manager/appraiser, and Michael Bernhard was the recipient of the organization’s new Outstanding Early Career Award.

In introducing Hopkins, Russ Hiatt, ISPFMRA immediate-past president, cited the honoree’s long career in the ag chemical and seed industry.

Hopkins, of Normal, recently retired from Pioneer/Corteva after 35-plus years. He started working in the industry after graduating from Southern Illinois University, and over the years he served as a territory manager, product agronomist, area sales manager, and farm manager coordinator.

“His service to clients has been the epitome of what industry/client relationships should be. His long career reflects a lifelong dedication to advancing agriculture and the industry,” Hiatt said.

The Service to Agriculture Award has been given since 1940 and has included government officials, media personalities, heads of agricultural organization, university staff and faculty, and Extension professionals.

Early Career Award

Bernhard joined First Mid Ag Services in April 2019 as an assistant vice president/farm manager in the Kankakee office.

He is a 2019 graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in agronomy management.

Bernhard grew up on a grain farm near Mazon in Grundy County. He operates the farm with his family. He was involved in 4-H and FFA growing up and is an active member of the Kendall-Grundy Farm Bureau Young Leaders. He’s currently the Illinois Farm Bureau District 5 Young Leader representative.

Prior to First Mid Ag Services, Bernhard worked summers in seed corn production in Utica. He is a licensed Illinois real estate broker and FAA 107 UAS remote pilot license holder, which allows him to capture aerial photos and videos of clients’ properties.

Bernhard serves as cochairman of the Region 1 Data Collection Group of the ISPFMRA’s Land Values and Lease Trends Conference.

In 2023, he earned an Accredited Farm Manager designation with the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. He enjoys farming, shooting sports and model farming and railroading in his free time.

“This award is being presented to an individual who is starting their career in professional farm management and rural appraisal or consulting services. This individual has contributed much in the early stage, setting the course for a successful career,” Hiatt said.

When the organization’s board finalized plans to form a Technology Committee in 2023, Hiatt said Bernhard was the selected to lead the committee.

“The board quickly and unanimously decided he was the elected choice to head up that committee and when we approached him on his willingness to serve, he didn’t even hesitate,” Hiatt said.

“He stepped up and started to assemble the committee and launched the initiative to update and revamp our website and bringing new opportunities for education and learning about technology to our organization.”