BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Former Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert Jr. was recently named the 2024 recipient of the Charles B. Shuman Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his lifetime of leadership and service in the agriculture industry. Guebert was presented the award during IFB’s Annual Meeting in Chicago on Sunday, Dec. 8.
The Distinguished Service Award, the highest award given by IFB, recognizes an individual who has given a lifetime of leadership and service to agriculture, or to a major segment of the state and/or nation. The award honors the memory and service of Charles B. Shuman, a revered Moultrie County farm leader who served as president of both IFB and the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Guebert, of Ellis Grove, was the 15th IFB president and the former president of COUNTRY Financial, Illinois Agricultural Service Company, and the IAA Foundation. He also served as IFB vice president from 2003-2013.
In addition to two decades of serving Illinois Farm Bureau members, Guebert served multiple terms on the American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors. In both roles, he sacrificed time away from his farm and family to advocate on behalf of fellow farmers and develop policy that could guide both organizations.
His path to both roles featured involvement in other organizations related to agriculture, including serving various positions at the Randolph County Farm Bureau and serving as director: of the Lower Kaskaskia Stakeholders, Inc. (1999-2004); of the Kaskaskia Watershed Association (2000-2004) and of the Gateway FS (1990-2008).
In 2001, Guebert served on the Illinois Farm Bureau Co-op Task Force and in 2009 was appointed to the Taxpayer Action Board and in 2012 was appointed to the Governor’s Export Advisory Council by then-Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn. Guebert in 2007 traveled to New Delhi and Poland on separate agricultural trade missions and in 2009 was sent to Cuba for an agribusiness trade mission under the direction of former USDA Secretary John Block.
Guebert and his wife, Nancy, reside in Ellis Grove. They are members of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Chester where Rich has served in many capacities. Guebert grows corn, soybeans and wheat alongside his son, Kyle.
