March 7, 2002

C-FAR Membership Sets New Research Direction and Elects 2002 Leadership  

URBANA--The Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR) membership convened for a two-day retreat on February 13 and 14 at Eagle Creek Resort and Conference Center in Findlay, IL.  Held once every three years, this special event allowed a group of 200 industry stakeholders and researchers to share their insights and experiences to help identify priority research needs for the food and agriculture industry in Illinois. For information on new research priorities as determined by the C-FAR membership, visit the C-FAR research focus areas web page at www.ilcfar.org/research/focus.html.

Senator Duane Noland provided opening remarks at the retreat and received special recognition from C-FAR upon his upcoming retirement from the Senate. Senator Noland spoke to the importance of C-FAR and how Illinois must "strategically plan what is a head for us in agriculture." Senator Noland was instrumental in the passage of the Food and Agriculture Research Act (C-FAR's enabling legislation).

In addition to setting new research priorities and direction, the C-FAR working groups elected chairs and vice chairs to serve in 2002. The working group leadership includes:

Expanding Agricultural Markets:

Nels Kasey (Paris), Chair 

Phillip Borgic (Nokomis), Vice Chair

Rural Economic Development:

A. J. Harland (LaFayette), Chair 

Karla Hart (Simpson), Vice Chair

Agricultural Production Systems:

Brent Bidner (Monticello), Chair 

Molly Ann Godar (Rochester), Vice Chair

Human Nutrition and Food Safety:

Karen Little (Pleasant Plains), Chair 

Jeanne Harland (LaFayette), Vice Chair

Natural Resources:

Susan Adams (Atlanta), Chair 

Byford Wood (Breese), Vice Chair

During the retreat, special recognition was given to Dr. David Chicoine, former Dean of the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, for his dedication and support of C-FAR and its mission. Dr. Chicoine now serves at the university as Vice President for Economic Development and Corporate Relations.

The C-FAR Annual Meeting was held following the retreat on the afternoon of February 14. Special recognition was given to Terry Wolf (Homer) who served on the Board of Directors from 1996 to 2002 and as chairman from 1996 to 2001.  Mr. Wolf currently serves as president of the National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research. At the meeting, Larry Fischer (Pittsfield), Carol Keiser (Champaign) and Alan Puzey (Fairmount) were elected to serve on the six-person 2002 Board of Directors. 

Officers were elected at a Board of Directors meeting on February 26. They include: 

Alan Puzey, Chairman

David Downs (Allerton), Vice Chair and Research Chair

Fred Bradshaw (Griggsville), Secretary/Treasurer

Constance Locher Bussard (Springfield), Legislative Chair

Carol Keiser, Membership Chair

Larry Fischer, Research Vice Chair

Jack Erisman (Pana) will serve in an ex officio capacity as past chair.

"It is a distinct honor for me to be serving as the C-FAR Chairman. The unprecedented levels of engagement in and support of C-FAR will enable this organization to provide critically needed direction to our research portfolio," said Puzey. "I look forward to our organization's continued strong partnership with the State of Illinois in ensuring that our food and agricultural industry has a strong research base."

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