Outreach

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumnus Eric Hodel didn’t begin his career expecting to lead one of the nation’s largest faith-based food banks. But the journey from his childhood on a Central Illinois farm to his current role as CEO of Midwest Food Bank makes one thing clear: Agriculture and serving his community have always been central to his story.  

Through a partnership among the College of ACES, the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and Feeding Illinois, student-raised livestock from the Illinois State Fair Sale of Champions is being transformed into meaningful support for local food banks — helping nourish neighbors and fight food insecurity.

Agricultural field trials can provide crucial information that helps scientists and farmers optimize production and reduce environmental impacts. The Data-Intensive Farm Management Project, housed at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, works with farmers to conduct large-scale scientific experiments using precision agriculture. The goal is to generate real-world data that can help farmers make efficient management decisions and increase profits.

Germán Bollero, dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty for the sake of science.

Thaddeus Bergschneider, an undergraduate student in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has been elected as the 2024-2025 National FFA President.

Diana Rodríguez vividly remembers what it’s like to navigate the complex and daunting U.S. college admissions process as a racially minoritized, first-generation college student. Raised by Mexican immigrant parents in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, Rodríguez’s family valued education but had little access to guidance for first-generation college students and their families. 

The financial planning program in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is growing and thriving. The program, a concentration in the ACE undergraduate major, has doubled in size over the past eight years, and now serves 175 students who are preparing for careers as financial advisors.

The Global Foundation for Agricultural Journalism (GFAJ) has reached a milestone with the election of its first full board of trustees, which includes two representatives associated with the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Enivironmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

This marks an important step forward for the newly established charity as it embarks on its mission to enhance and promote agricultural journalism and communication on a global scale.

This summer, the Center for Digital Agriculture (CDA) hosted the largest cohort of students yet in the four-year history of the CDA Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. In 2023, seven students interned in the 10-week program. This year, that number has tripled to 22 students.

Evelyn Brandt Thomas turned 100 on her last birthday, and just over 100 days into this year, she was awarded the prestigious Order of Lincoln by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. This award is Illinois’ highest honor for professional achievement and public service.