Illinois Wheat Board Opens Nominations for 2025 Election

By Andi Anderson

The Illinois Wheat Development Board will hold its next election on October 30, 2025, and is inviting interested wheat producers to run for board positions.

Starting August 1, eligible producers can request nominating petitions from the Illinois Department of Agriculture or the Illinois Wheat Association.

This election offers producers the chance to help guide the future of Illinois’s wheat industry. “I encourage interested producers to engage in this process, to take an active role in shaping the future of the wheat industry,” said Jerry Costello II, Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. “As the 10th largest producer of wheat in the U.S., Illinois holds a strong position with great potential for growth.”

Candidates must be of legal voting age and reside in the district they aim to represent. Each petition must have signatures from at least 50 wheat producers or 5% of the eligible producers in the district, whichever is less.

In addition to district-specific positions, three at-large seats are open to any qualified producer statewide. Petitions for these positions also require 50 or 5% of eligible producer signatures statewide.

Completed petitions must be submitted to the Illinois Department of Agriculture by September 15, 2025.

The Illinois Wheat Development Board includes six districts that cover various counties throughout the state. Interested candidates are encouraged to check the district list to confirm eligibility.

For more information, producers can contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture at (217) 524-1083 or the Illinois Wheat Association at (309) 557-3619.

This election is an important opportunity for producers to influence policy and programs that impact Illinois wheat farming.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-zoran-zeremski