Tara Heath Takes Leadership Role with Illinois Extension

By Andi Anderson

The University of Illinois Extension has announced Tara Heath as the new County Director for Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren counties. She will take over the position when longtime director Lisa Torrance retires at the end of April after 24 years of dedicated service.

Torrance leaves behind a strong record of teamwork and impactful programming. Reflecting on her time with Extension, she shared, “It has been an honor to serve these communities for more than two decades. I am grateful for the people I’ve worked alongside and proud of what we’ve accomplished together. Tara brings deep experience, strong leadership, and a genuine passion for this region. I know the unit will be in excellent hands.”

Heath’s connection to agriculture began in childhood. Growing up on her family farm gave her early experience in production agriculture, which she still practices today.

As she explained, “Agriculture has always been at the heart of who I am. Outside of work, you’ll still find me on our family farm, especially during harvest, helping with everything from fieldwork to meal delivery.”

Professionally, Heath has more than 20 years of experience in landscape management and supervision. She previously served as Superintendent of Grounds at Western Illinois University. She joined Illinois Extension in 2021 as a horticulture program coordinator, later becoming a Commercial Agriculture Educator specializing in agronomy, crop sciences, regenerative agriculture, and Annie’s Project.

Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in agriculture from Western Illinois University and a Master of Science in crop sciences from the University of Illinois. In 2025, she also earned her Certified Crop Adviser certification.

As County Director, Heath plans to focus on strong relationships. “Extension thrives because of strong relationships,” she said. “My focus will be supporting our staff, volunteers, and community partners—ensuring they feel connected, valued, and empowered to serve.”

She is also excited to return to her hometown. “What I’m looking forward to most is returning to my hometown of Macomb to continue this impactful work,” she said.

Photo Credit: Tara Heath