Founded in 1916, the Illinois Farm Bureau is a grassroots membership organisation controlled by farmers themselves. It operates across all 95 counties in Illinois through a network of County Farm Bureaus, serving approximately 400,000 individual members. Its stated mission is to improve the economic well-being of agriculture and enrich the quality of farm family life in the state.
The organisation pursues this mission through education, legislative advocacy, and community support. Its governance follows a democratic approach, with direction set by its farmer members. Benefits and programmes are exclusive to members.
Among its initiatives are the Agricultural Leaders of Tomorrow (ALOT) programme and the Young Leaders programme, both focused on leadership development within its membership base. The Illinois Farm Bureau operates solely within the state of Illinois and is active in the agriculture industry vertical.
