RFD Today January 01, 2026

Illinois FFA President Natalie Pratt discusses her first six months in office.  Troy Uphoff details his participation in the National Corn Growers Association yield contest.IHSA Friday Friday Friday segment features Dave Nanninga from IllinoisHighSchoolGloryDays.com. 

A best of show on New Year's Day featuring:Rick Collins with Firmitas and his work on barn restorations.Dakarai Howard with the Illinois Department of Agriculture at a community food plot hosted by the Crete-Monee FFA Chapter. Jacob Burks from AgMarket.net reliving his days on the rodeo circuit.  David Grindle with the International Association of Fairs and Expositions on the financial impact of county fairs.  

Recapping last weekend's damaging storms with meteorologist Ed Shimon from the National Weather Service in Lincoln. Highlighting a Champaign County Farm Bureau program called Farm Smarts: A Fresh Look at Farm Fundamentals. Looking back at 2025 with the Illinois Soybean Association and Midwest Dairy.  

Licensed professional counselor Rachel Brown reflects on 2025 and looks ahead to 2026.First ever Illinois FFA State Sentinel Paige Sierens discusses the first six months of her term.  Talking IDNR First Day Hikes with Troy Gilmore at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site. Meteorologist Paul Otto at Freese-Notis Weather recaps last weekend's storm and looks at New Year's Eve and New Year's Day weather.  

Highlighting Illinois' newest FFA chapter, Routt Catholic in Jacksonville. Recapping 2025 with Lindsay Croke from IL Corn.Joe Camp at Commstock Investments previews a new market week.  

A conversation with new Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader Committee Chair Garrett Williams from Richland County.Ryan Gentle from Wyffels Hybrids details the company's Harvest Progress Map.  IHSA Friday Friday Friday segment is with Farmington High School coach and eduactor Toby Vallas, who's being inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.  

Special Christmas show featuring Christmas memories from Nikki Taylor (Jim Taylor's wife), Illinois Farm Bureau Director of Issue Management DeAnne Bloomberg, Monticello High School educator & coach Cully Welter, farm broadcaster Max Armstrong, and retired WRMJ owner John Hoscheidt.  

An extended conversation with Dr. Ed Hightower, who played a key role in responding to a food desert and bringing a grocery store to Venice, Illinois. Dr. Hightower currently serves on the SIU Board of Trustees. He spent many years as Edwardsville School District superintendent and is a retired Big Ten basketball official, working 12 NCAA Final Fours.  

Talking school bus safety and raising public awareness on stop arm violations with Rockridge School District Superintendent Marcus Bush and Illinois State Police Trooper Shafer McKune. Holiday travel update with Paul Wappel from the Illinois Department of Transportation.Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford details Christmas and New Year's weather.  

Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson discusses the resolutions process leading up to American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention next month. IFB Economic and Policy Analyst Raelynn Parmely highlights the 2025 State of the Farm Economy report. Jenna Spychal with Jonamac Orchard and the Illinois Specialty Growers Association promotes next month's Everything Local Conference.Commstock Investments Joe Camp previews a new market week.