UNDATED (PF) -- This month, five exceptional Illinois farmers were named Prairie Farmer Master Farmers, including the first woman to receive the honor.

David Bliss of Maquon, Ken Greene of Durand, Linnea Kooistra of Woodstock, Jim Purlee of Galesburg, and Ron Tombaugh of Streator are recipients of the 2011 Master Farmer Award.

Former Prairie Farmer editor Clifford Gregory started the program in 1925 as a way to recognize the finest farmers in both Illinois and Indiana. That first year, 23 Master Farmers were recognized at a banquet in Chicago. From the very beginning, the award was unique in that a significant portion of the judges' scoring hinged on the farmers' community involvement. Today, the tradition remains.

The Master Farmer award was discontinued in the early 1930s due to economic hardship. In 1968, the award was reinvigorated, when ten Illinois farmers were named Master Farmers.

All of the 10 winners were pillars in their communities. Editors noted each of the men "would be last to claim perfection." In addition, editors noted each man's commitment to his family. The Class of 2011 carries on these same traditions. Each farmer works tirelessly for his or her community. However, they would be the last to claim credit.

Once again, GROWMARK continues in its role as the financial sponsor for the Prairie Farmer Master Farmer awards. In 2009, GROWMARK stepped in to provide the financial assistance that was necessary to continue the awards program. GROWMARK’s commitment to caring for the local ag community dovetails nicely with Prairie Farmer’s duty to maintain the heritage and honor of the Master Farmer awards.

Like the Master Farmer award, the GROWMARK system was born during the 1920s, when grower cooperatives began organizing. In 1927, nine local cooperatives came together to form the Illinois Farm Supply Co. Today, the brand is known as FS.

Even before Ken graduated from Illinois State University in 1968 with an agriculture degree, he already had one offer to farm. When a family friend was diagnosed with cancer, he asked Ken to farm his 200 acres, even though Ken was still a senior in college. Ken accepted. But, he still wasn’t sure farming was his true calling. Borrowing his father’s equipment, he farmed the 200 acres, while also fulfilling his obligation to his Army Reserve unit for the next six years.

During this time, Ken also found time to marry his wife, Becky, whom he met his junior year at ISU. He also worked part-time for Evergreen FS in McLean County each spring. In the late 1960s, Ken began to evaluate his career options. He enjoyed the work at FS, but sitting behind a desk wasn’t his cup of tea. In 1970, Ken bought into the farm and threw himself into producing pork, beef, corn and soybeans.

With Ken settled in on the farm and Becky working as a reading specialist at the local school district, the two found time to start a family. Their son, Rick, was born in 1977. Shortly thereafter, they had a daughter, Alicia, who was followed by their youngest son, Erik.

Throughout his life, Ken’s ability to always handle another iron in the fire has served him well. It’s led to key appointments on multiple community and agriculture advisory boards. It’s also kept his eyes open to new technology, which he enjoys bringing back to the farm. Ken adopted strip till on all his corn acres in the early 1990s. He began using variable rate technology in 1991.

Ken’s commitment to farming, family, community and his enterprising nature make him the quintessential Master Farmer.