Government Center  
719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A  
Geneva, IL 60134  
Kane County  
KC Agriculture Committee  
Meeting Minutes  
JUBY, Roth, Allan, Lenert, Penesis, Sanchez, Williams and ex-officio Pierog (County Chair)  
Thursday, January 23, 2025  
10:30 AM  
County Board Room  
2025 Committee Goals  
Goals from the July Agriculture Committee meeting  
• Revise County Code Definition of the Agriculture Committee  
• Awareness & Support of Agriculture - Raise public awareness and support for agriculture  
in Kane County as an industry sector and community resource  
• Farmland Protection - Work in concert with the Farmland Protection Commission and  
County Board to oversee the successful implementation of Kane County’s Farmland  
Protection Ordinance and related conservation efforts, and pursue funding  
• Continue Growing for Kane Program - Direct the implementation of programs and  
policies that expand the production of locally grown foods and improve community access  
to fresh and healthy food choices, and pursue funding  
- Continue partnerships with Kane County Farm Bureau and Northern Illinois Food Bank  
- Implement current grant funded projects  
- Continue to apply for additional outside grants  
- Implement economic development projects for Agriculture  
- ARPA Small grants for farmers  
- Other projects identified by the Economic Development Strategic Plan for Kane County  
_______________________________________________________________________  
1.  
2.  
Call To Order  
Chairman Juby called today's meeting to order at 10:30 AM.  
Roll Call  
Board Member Leslie Juby  
Board Member Bill Roth  
PRESENT  
ABSENT  
Board Member Deborah Allan  
Board Member Bill Lenert  
Board Member Ted Penesis  
Board Member Jarett Sanchez  
Board Member Rick Williams  
Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog  
Also present: Co. Bd. members Bates*, Kious*, Molina*; KCFB Dir. Collins; Dev. Dir.  
VanKerkhoff and staff Tansley, Castro, McKenna; ASA Cermak; ITD staff Peters; and  
members of the press and public, including Agriculture and Food Consultant Ellen  
Kamps, Forest Preserve Restoration Tech. Blackburn*, and former Kane County Board  
Member Mike Kenyon.  
3.  
4.  
Remote Attendance Requests  
There were no remote attendance requests for today's meeting.  
Approval of Minutes: December 18, 2024  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT  
Deborah Allan  
5.  
Public Comment  
David Canton, Maple Park, spoke on the economic impact of the Ecolab industry,  
specifically within the agricultural economic environment. He highlighted the potential  
negative impact of ordinances that are biased against agriculture. He indicated that  
recreation is a significant contributor to the economy. He mentioned in 2023, according  
to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, outdoor recreation alone contributed 2.2 percent  
of the Illinois gross domestic product. Canton stated that more farmers are returning to  
Ecolab farming. Small farmers are learning that the cost of fuel, maintenance, and  
acquisition costs are not sustainable. He hopes the Committee will amend the  
ordinance to promote, save, and restore the agricultural economy within Kane County.  
6.  
Partners  
Kane County Farm Bureau Updates (Bill Collins, Director)  
A.  
KCFB Dir. Collins announced that the Kane County Farm Bureau meeting will be  
held on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. The Illinois Farm Bureau  
Governor Affairs Leadership Conference (GALC) will held on Tuesday, February  
18, 2025 in Springfield Illinois. The Kane County Farm Bureau Shopping Spree  
will be held on Monday, February 24 at 10:00 a.m. at Jewel Osco in Batavia.  
7.  
Presentations/Announcements  
Sustainable Agriculture Projects Update (Ellen Kamps, Consultant)  
A.  
Agriculture and Food Consultant Ellen Kamps provided background about  
herself to the Committee. She has a Masters Degree in Public Affairs with a  
focus on sustainable agriculture from University of California Berkeley. She is  
currently pursuing her Masters in science at Arizona State University for  
sustainable food systems. Kamps has studied agriculture technology,  
economics abroad for twelve years. She provided information on the Food and  
Farm Resiliency Grant Program, and the Farming with Pollinators Guidebook.  
Kamps indicated that her sub-contractor, Janice Hill, is looking forward to  
providing an overview of her work with the Land Transfer Navigator at the March  
Agriculture Committee meeting. Kamps is producing a guidebook for farmers,  
ranchers, and land managers on natural resource conservation district practices  
and programs. These practices and programs support pollinator habitats. The  
objective is to provide a practical guide and decision-making tool for land  
managers. She indicated that while there is established research and experts  
featured in this developing publication. It is critical to craft a tool by interviewing  
Kane County farmers and their specific needs in the field. Kamps attended three  
field days in 2024. Two were located in Kane County, and one was on an urban  
farm on the south side of Chicago. This project is projected to be completed by  
April or May of 2025. Kamps looks forward to updating the committee with the  
finished publication. Lastly, Kane County awarded 19 food-growing farms and  
ranches $755K in 2024. Kamps addressed questions and comments from the  
Committee. Much discussion ensued.  
Growing for Kane Resolutions and Updates (Matt Tansley, Planner)  
B.  
Dev. Planner Tansley provided updates on the Urban Agriculture Innovative  
Production Programs. The University of Illinois extension team (U of I) is  
providing farmer training services for this program. The first class of the Master  
Urban Farmer Training Program concluded in December 2024. The program  
was a success, and U of I is eager to conduct a second cohort of the program in  
the fall. Tansley stated that the USDA approved a submitted request to amend  
the budget to pay for local food access programs to support organizations in Fox  
Valley. These programs were created by the U of I extension Snap Education  
Team.  
Farmland Protection Program Acreage Analysis (Catherine McKenna, Planner /  
GIS Specialist)  
C.  
GIS Dev. Planner McKenna stated that there are approximately 7K acres of land  
involved in the Farmland Protection Program Easements. There are 160K acres  
of agriculture accessed land. She indicated that the program is a voluntary  
program for landowners to use as a tool to recognize the value of their land.  
Much discussion ensued.  
8.  
New Business  
Authorizing a One-Year Extension and Amending the Contract Limit for Ellen  
A.  
Kamps to Provide Continued Food and Agriculture Consulting Services  
KC Executive Committee  
RESULT:  
TO:  
MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE  
KC Executive Committee  
Bill Lenert  
MOVER:  
Rick Williams  
SECONDER:  
Leslie Juby, Bill Roth, Deborah Allan, Bill Lenert, Ted Penesis,  
Jarett Sanchez, and Rick Williams  
AYE:  
Corinne M. Pierog  
ABSENT:  
Authorizing a One-Year Contract Extension with New Venture Advisors to  
Provide Food and Agriculture Consulting Services  
B.  
KC Executive Committee  
RESULT:  
TO:  
MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE  
KC Executive Committee  
Jarett Sanchez  
MOVER:  
Bill Lenert  
SECONDER:  
Leslie Juby, Bill Roth, Deborah Allan, Bill Lenert, Ted Penesis,  
Jarett Sanchez, and Rick Williams  
AYE:  
Corinne M. Pierog  
ABSENT:  
10.  
11.  
Reports Placed On File  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT  
Jarett Sanchez  
Adjournment  
RESULT:  
APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE  
Bill Roth  
MOVER:  
Jarett Sanchez  
SECONDER:  
This meeting was adjourned at 11:23 a.m.  
Rachel Santora  
Recording Secretary