By Andi Anderson
Two members of the McLean County Farm Bureau, Oliver Kragelund and Matt Miller, successfully completed the Illinois Farm Bureau’s 2026 Agricultural Leaders of Tomorrow (ALOT) program in March.
The program is designed to develop leadership skills while strengthening participants’ connection to modern agricultural challenges.
“The ALOT program has been valuable to me both personally and professionally, providing a deeper understanding of leadership while staying grounded in the realities of agriculture today,” Miller said. “I appreciated how the program connected leadership development with real‑world agricultural issues, allowing participants to learn from experienced speakers while building meaningful relationships with peers across the ag community.”
Miller works as the Crop Underwriting Operations Manager at COUNTRY Financial. In his role, he manages crop underwriting processes, training, compliance, technology systems and product development.
He is a graduate of Benedictine University, has completed the CIRB Emerging Leader Program, and lives in Bloomington with his wife and son.
“The ALOT program has been an enjoyable and educational experience for me,” Kragelund said. “The coaching and interactions with leading industry professionals have shown me avenues and aspects I had not considered before while honing skills that will benefit me well moving forward.”
Kragelund is a student at Heartland Community College studying agricultural safety. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, he entered agriculture through work at a grain elevator. Following a serious grain bin accident, he shifted his career focus toward agricultural safety education and risk prevention.
Kragelund and Miller were among 13 graduates representing 10 counties across Illinois. The group included farmers and agricultural professionals with varied backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of the agriculture industry.
Now in its 47th year, the ALOT program has graduated nearly 1,300 leaders since 1979. The seven-session program includes more than 80 hours of instruction covering communication, public policy, agricultural economics and global issues. Sessions are led by university experts, industry leaders and Illinois Farm Bureau staff.
“ALOT helped me grow as a leader by challenging me to think more strategically, communicate more effectively, and lead with greater intention. I would strongly recommend ALOT to anyone looking to expand their leadership skills and make a lasting impact within agriculture,” Miller said.
This year’s program placed extra focus on public speaking and communication, helping participants confidently represent agriculture in their communities.
“To anyone considering the ALOT program, if you have any interest in being a leader in agriculture or are finding yourself in those kinds of positions, I think it is an incredibly valuable asset to add and enhance your skills and mindset,” Kragelund said.
ALOT is sponsored by Illinois Farm Bureau, COUNTRY Financial, Prairie Farms and GROWMARK.
Photo Credit: illinois-farm-bureau
Categories: Illinois, Education