This article was originally published in Illinois Field & Bean magazine; written by Olivia Key, Assistant Editor, Field & Bean Magazine

The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) Agronomy Team is dedicated to serving the agronomic needs of Illinois soybean farmers through information and research shared through FieldAdvisor.org. Below, you’ll meet this team of Certified Crop Advisers, Illinois farmers, industry experts and go-getters, who are all united by a shared passion for supporting the soybean farmers of Illinois.

Abigail Peterson, CCA, Director of Agronomy

As Director of Agronomy, Peterson helps guide ISA’s conservation efforts and aids in the development and implementation of conservation agricultural research and outreach programs. She also helps lead the demonstration and adoption of conservation agriculture practices to Illinois soybean farmers.

Why are you passionate about supporting Illinois soybean farmers?

“What drives our passion and work is connecting with farmers. The checkoff is your tool to address soybean production concerns, whether that be chemical usage, soil and water quality, integrated pest management and more.”

Jennifer Jones, CCA, Research Agronomist

In her role, Jones works to develop and implement agricultural research and outreach programs. She supports research efforts and helps communicate both in-field and edge-of-field research and validation studies to ISA’s farmer audiences, leads demonstration of conservation agriculture practices, and raises awareness of best management and continuous improvement practices for conservation agriculture in Illinois.

Jones’ contributions to FieldAdvisor.org include coordinating the external research projects with university and industry partners. She works alongside Stacy Zuber and Kelsey Litchfield to review all Research Hub content to ensure the information is timely and relevant. She also works with Lauran Hill and Litchfield to share progress updates on external research projects through blogs and social media posts.

Why are you passionate about supporting Illinois soybean farmers?

“I am passionate about supporting Illinois soybean farmers because my family is among them. Farm families work really hard, so I am particularly passionate about bringing research findings to farmers that can help lighten their decision-making load when it comes to soybean production issues.”

Stacy Zuber, Ph.D., Research Data Scientist

As ISA’s Research Data Scientist, Zuber works alongside Jones to develop and implement agricultural research and outreach programs. Her emphasis is on designing and implementing on-farm research trials, analyzing data and preparing and delivering outreach materials to share findings with the agricultural community.

Why are you passionate about supporting Illinois soybean farmers?

“I’ve always been interested in science and trying to understand how things work and how we can use what we learn to make things better. Growing up on a farm and surrounded by agriculture, those eventually fit together. Now I have the opportunity to work on applied research that helps farmers do their job.”

Deanna Burkhart, Producer and Field Services Administrator

In her role as Producer and Field Services Administrator, Burkhart works to develop and implement outreach programs, with an emphasis on farmer participation and partnership coordination. Burkhart is also involved with the coordination of projects on FieldAdvisor.org, such as the On-Farm Trial Network.

Why are you passionate about supporting Illinois soybean farmers?

“Many of my friends and family are Illinois soybean farmers. Illinois farmers are key contributors to the agriculture industry, and it is my privilege to support their success.”

Stephanie Porter, CCA, Outreach Agronomist

As Outreach Agronomist, Porter supports all things Field Advisor, which encompasses the outreach efforts that help communicate both in-field and edge-of-field research and validation studies to Illinois farmers.

Porter works closely with Litchfield to provide agronomic outreach in Field Advisor videos, podcasts, radio, blogs, newsletters, in-field insights and social media. She also utilizes her experience to help farmers across the state solve agronomic problems.

Why are you passionate about supporting Illinois soybean farmers?

 “I am passionate about supporting Illinois farmers because I have seen how far they have come when it comes to soybean production but also understand they still have many challenges to overcome. I enjoy connecting farmers with ISA checkoff-funded research, troubleshooting field issues and contributing to our unbiased research hub on FieldAdvisor.org.”

Kelsey Litchfield, Agronomic Outreach Specialist

 In her role as Agronomic Outreach Specialist, Litchfield assists in the coordination of Field Advisor outreach events and projects. You will often find Litchfield out in the fields assisting the Agronomy Team during field days and other events.

Litchfield also manages Field Advisor’s website and social media platforms, ensuring they are up-to-date and effectively communicate key information. She also hosts the Field Advisor podcast, where she engages with farmers, experts and industry leaders to discuss relevant agronomic topics. Her role involves creating content, interacting with farmers and industry partners, and driving engagement across digital channels to support ISA’s outreach and educational efforts.

Why are you passionate about supporting Illinois soybean farmers?

“I’m dedicated to supporting Illinois soybean farmers by delivering actionable information on agronomy and production. With an overwhelming amount of information available online, I strive to offer clear, independent and unbiased information to help farmers make informed decisions. My goal is to empower Illinois soybean growers with the knowledge needed for profitability, effective land stewardship and high yields.”

Lauran Hill, Agronomic Outreach Coordinator

As the Agronomic Outreach Coordinator, Hill coordinates events and programs, assists with social media and manages Field Advisor’s graphic design and photography needs.

Why are you passionate about supporting Illinois soybean farmers?

“Illinois soybean farmers are committed and dedicated to the hard work that goes into every season, no matter the challenges. Coming from a farm, I see that every single day. They are continuously moving forward, adapting and ensuring a healthy future for generations to come.”

Connie Copley, Agronomy Team Coordinator

In her role, Copley manages the Director of Agronomy’s schedule, coordinates travel and plans meetings for the Agronomy Team’s internal and external contacts. Copley proactively addresses pressing departmental needs and collaborates with her team to organize team activities in and out of the field. She assists with project management, as well as preparation for Field Advisor events and field days.

Why are you passionate about supporting Illinois soybean farmers?

“I am passionate about agriculture, serving others, and helping my team stay organized and on track so they can do what they do best in supporting Illinois soybean farmers. Farming is hard work, and it is not for the faint of heart. You work long hours, are out in the elements and dirty most of the time, you have to love it to do it. I love listening to the stories or life lessons that farmers like to share.”

To learn more about the ISA Agronomy Team and their objectives, www.FieldAdvisor.org.