Central Illinois man wins prestigious recognition of Master Farmer

Will Simmons
·2 min read

PESTOTUM, Ill. (WCIA) — It’s called the Master Farmer Award, and it spotlights agricultural leadership in Illinois.

Chris Hausman, who farms in Pesotum, won this year’s title. He’s one of five winners in the state, and credits his success to the people around him.

“It’s quite an honor to be considered in a group of individuals that come before us,” Hausman said.

Prairie Farmer magazine has been an important source of agricultural information since the mid-1800s. In 1925, they introduced the Master Farmer Award, 12 years after Hausman’s great-grandparents founded the family farm outside of Pesotum.

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“I was born and raised on this particular farm,” he said.

Now, he’s won the prestigious title.

“You know, growing up, I never really looked at that as something that, you know, that I saw.”

He’s been a leader on and off the tractor for decades as a volunteer firefighter, working at the farm bureau and with a local bank.

“Inspiring, I think is a word that I would use… hopefully it does inspire that next generation of farmers,” Hausman said.

A fourth-generation farmer, Hausman started growing corn and soybeans in 1991. He said he has no problem working the fields, but he’s no spring chicken and someone will have to take over duties in the future — maybe one of his three sons.

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“Whether or not one of those will actually be involved in the production is yet to be seen,” he said.

Hausman said the Master Farmer Award is a culmination of work form anyone who has ever helped on his farm. All honorees are nominated by people in the community and picked by Prairie Farmer.

He will be presented the award at an end of the month ceremony in Bloomington.

Hausman said farming is challenging at times, but it can also be redeeming.

“You don’t normally get those chances in life to do things over, but in farming each year’s new and different,” he added.

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