Illinois farmers recognized statewide for conservation and local food leadership

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois agriculture stretches from generations-old family farms to community gardens in the heart of Chicago, and two farmers representing those different parts of the state's food system were honored for their leadership during the Illinois State Fair.

The Illinois Stewardship Alliance presented its 2026 Woody Woodruff Conservation Award to Monte Bottens of Bottens Family Farm in Cambridge and named Christal J. Tarver of Community Roots Garden on Chicago's South Side its 2026 Local Food Changemaker of the Year.

Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello presented the honors during the Ag Day Breakfast at the State Fair. The awards recognize leadership in sustainable agriculture, conservation and development of Illinois' local food economy.

Bottens is a fifth-generation farmer whose family has worked its Henry County land since 1869. He and his wife, Robyn, operate a 2,000-acre diversified farm built around soil health and conservation.

After adopting no-till farming in 1995, Bottens incorporated intensive cover cropping and livestock integration. The operation includes corn, soybeans, wheat and diverse cover crop mixes, along with cattle, pigs and poultry managed through rotational grazing.

The conservation award is named for Robert "Woody" Woodruff, a Macoupin County farmer, conservation leader and Illinois Stewardship Alliance staff member who died in 2020. It honors farmers who embody his commitment to soil, water and community.

Bottens' work extends beyond his own fields. He and his wife launched Grateful Graze in 2018 to sell farm products directly to consumers, and Bottens shares conservation practices with other producers through Ag Solutions Network and the AgEmerge Podcast.

Tarver's work illustrates another side of Illinois agriculture. She owns and operates Community Roots Garden NFP, where a formerly vacant Chicago lot has become a community garden featuring 15 raised beds of organically grown vegetables, fruits and herbs.

She has also advocated for farmers who historically have faced barriers to resources and opportunities. Tarver participated in efforts surrounding HB4922, the Emerging and Socially Disadvantaged Farmer Grant legislation, sharing her experiences with policymakers and helping shape advocacy efforts.

Tarver later testified before the Illinois House Agriculture and Conservation Committee — the first legislative committee testimony of her career — about the importance of equitable access to resources for strengthening local food systems and supporting future generations of farmers.

Together, the two honorees highlight the increasingly diverse ways Illinois farmers are contributing to conservation, local food production and the future of agriculture across the state.