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, November 20, 2025 10:30 AM County Board Room

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

Board Member Deborah Allan

Board Member Bill Lenert

Board Member Ted Penesis

Board Member Jarett Sanchez

Board Member Rick Williams

ABSENT

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Also present: Co. Bd. members Bates*, Lewis, Molina*, Strathmann*; KCFB Mgr.

Arnold; KDSWCD Admin. Gerdts; Northern Illinois Food Bank Mgr. Desio; Dev. Planner

Tansley & staff Toth and Castro; Dev. Dir. VanKerkhoff and staff Tansley and Castro;

Spec. ASA & Local Historian Shepro; ITD staff Kash; and members of the press and

public including Former County Board Member Mike Kenyon.

Remote Attendance Requests

There were no remote attendance requests for today's meeting.

Approval of Minutes: October 23, 2025

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Bill Lenert

Public Comment

None.

Partners

Kane County Farm Bureau Updates (Steve Arnold, Manager)

Kane County Farm Bureau (KCFB) Mgr. Arnold thanked Madam Chair Pierog for

joining Kane County Farm Bureau President, Dale Pitstick, in Hampshire for a

firsthand look at Kane County's corn harvesting process on Wednesday,

October 29. While riding along in a combine as the Pitsticks worked the field,

Chairman Pierog witnessed how modern technology and generations of farming

expertise come together to feed both the community and the economy. He

announced that the American Farm Bureau Federation sent out their annual

cost of a Thanksgiving meal survey. The survey reported that a classic

Thanksgiving dinner for ten people costs $54.10, which is a five percent

decrease from 2024, and the lowest price since 2021. On Saturday, December

13, young farmers and KCFB Foundation members will team up again for The

Community Santa Project to provide toys to children and families. The event will

take place in the parking lot from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., serving Fay's BBQ. All

Giving Tree gifts need to be turned in to KCFB by the end of day. There will also

be a Lending Library of free Christmas themed children's books available at that

KCFB lobby during business hours. Arnold stated that in two weeks, three

KCFB delegates and three KCFB alternates will head to Chicago for the annual

meeting to vote on farm program policy resolutions with the Illinois Farm Bureau

(IFB). He announced that there are two open positions on his staff. The

available positions include a member engagement director, and a development

agriculture and literacy coordinator. The KCFB recently submitted an application

for electric vehicle charging stations in rural Kane County to the IFB for a rural

development grant. In February, the KCFB will be conducting its twenty-fifth

shopping spree for local food pantries at the Batavia Jewel Osco. Chairman

Juby will be recommended to participate again, and an open spot for a second

participant will be available to anyone interested in competing. The Annual

Touch-a-Tractor Program will run from April 10-12, 2026. He highlighted that the

DrawDown Fundraiser on Sunday, November 16 at the Elburn Lions Park had a

successful turnout. There will be another DrawDown event in early September

2026. The KCFB acquired a truck for the Annual Vintage Truck Raffle. The truck

will be given away on September 19, 2026 at the Big Rock Plowing Match.

Lastly, Arnold stated that the KCFB is looking forward to working with the

University of Illinois Extension to discuss long-term agricultural goals and to

potentially possess the property of the Research Farm at Route 38 and Peck

Road. Arnold believes that by establishing this site, it will allow farmers and

researchers to conduct all experiments and demonstration projects at one

location. Discussion ensued.

Kane-DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District Updates (Kat Gerdts,

Administrative Coordinator)

Kane-DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District (KDSWCD) Admin. Gerdts

highlighted that the Farm Foundation's Innovation and Education Campus in

Libertyville is a great site for education, research, and conducting

demonstrations. Gerdts noted that there were three inquiries referred to the

Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) portal for the Climate Pollution

Reduction, no till/strip till grant (CPRG). An update on the grant will be presented

at the next meeting. The Kane County Farm Weatherization Rebate is in

progress. On January 22, 2026, the KDSWCD will be collaborating with the

Kane County Sustainability Team to celebrate farms in Kane County. The

KDSWCD will host a BBQ dinner at Emerald Acres in Elburn, and will include a

keynote farmer speaker, Jim Stutes, who will speak about rural myths, and

Conservation Practices and why they can have a positive return on investment

(ROI). Registration for this event opens the first week of December. Lastly,

Gerdts stated that there will be an election on February 10, 2026 for the

KDSWCD Board of Directors. There are three seats open for seeking

candidates. Gerdts addressed questions and comments from the Committee.

Discussion ensued.

Northern Illinois Food Bank Updates

Northern Illinois Food Bank Mgr., Rob Desio, thanked Madam Chair Pierog and

everyone who attended the Kane County Leaders Convene Roundtable on Food

Access and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits on

November 7 to address growing concerns over reductions to the SNAP and their

impact on local families, seniors, and veterans. He stated that the event brought

together a coalition of federal, state, and community leaders, including

Congressman Bill Foster, and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood. There was

positive feedback and responses from donors for the Community Response

Fund. A total of 630K neighbors were served in October, and through the first

two weeks of November the number of neighbors served had a 26 percent

increase from October. Lastly, Desio announced that there is now a food finder

map displayed on the Northern Illinois Food Bank website where people have

access to local markets. Further discussion took place.

Presentations/Announcements

Agriculture Committee 2026 Goals Discussion

Dev. Planner Tansley reviewed the drafted Committee Goals for 2026. He

stated that the Planning Division staff met with Committee leadership to discuss

potential goals for the Kane County Agriculture Committee for 2026. He noted

that the goals are intended to guide the Committee's actions throughout the

year, be responsive to community needs, and stay consistent with county

policies and priorities on agriculture and food access. The following five goals

include Farmland Protection,Growing for Kane, Funding Advocacy, Staff

Oversight, and Raising Awareness of Agriculture. (Committee Member Allan

arrived at 11:25 a.m.) After much discussion, the Committee agreed to conduct

a final review of the 2026 Committee Goals at next month's meeting.

Amending Section 2-48 of the Kane County Code (Standing Committees) to

Revise Language Related to the Agriculture Committee

After much discussion, Chairman Juby recommended the Committee do a

second reading of the ordinance at next month's meeting. The ordinance was

tabled. No votes were taken.

RESULT:

TABLED

New Business

None.

Reports Placed On File

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Bill Roth

10.

11.

Executive Session (if needed)

None.

Adjournment

RESULT:

APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE

Bill Roth

MOVER:

Jarett Sanchez

SECONDER:

This meeting was adjourned at 11:58 a.m.

Rachel Santora

Recording Secretary