The Making of a Master Farmer

The Making of a Master Farmer

By Betsy Osman

Ron Moore is a man of few words, but they’re always the right ones.

His warm, affable demeanor makes him approachable, despite his desire to keep a low profile. And as any of his farming friends and colleagues will tell you, his leadership and soft strength are key cultivators of the rich soil needed to grow important relationships.

“I first met Ron when I joined the Illinois Soybean Association Board,” remembers Steve Pitstick, ISA Chairman. “Over the years, I’ve watched Ron take every opportunity to serve as an outstanding spokesman for soybeans at the state and national level, encouraging communication with other commodity groups in order to speak with one voice and have more influence in the policymaking process in both Springfield and Washington, D.C., Ron works to create new relationships and efficiencies within the soy family, all in the service of strengthening Illinois’ position as the number one producer of soy.”

Ron was born in Monmouth, Illinois. His mother was a teacher and tended to the home and family while his father farmed the land. “My father was hands-down the most influential person in my life,” says Ron. “He taught me the meaning of a strong work ethic and the value of volunteering my time to make my community a better place to live and work.”

Ron attended Roseville High School and then Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri, where he studied business administration and economics, and was exposed to the expansive world of corporate America. It was during a senior year class trip when Ron and his classmates were touring several businesses in the St. Louis area, learning the ins-and-outs of business practice and different work environments, that he made an important self-discovery.

“I remember we were asked to wear a suit and tie for these visits,” recalls Ron. “As we toured impressive offices and shook hands with business professionals from successful companies, I realized more and more that I didn’t belong there. A life in a corporate role didn’t appeal to me. It was at that point that I began to feel the urge to return home to my family and continue our farming legacy.”

Shortly after returning home to the family farm, Ron remembers repairing a tile outlet that wasn’t working properly. The soil from a moldboard plowed field had silted over the outlet by about three feet. The filter strip had done its job to keep the silt out of the stream, but that event provided young Ron a powerful new insight. “That was when I realized that we needed to do something different than plow all of our acres. That’s when we began incorporating conservation tillage practices.”

Today, Ron, his wife, Deb, and his son, Mike, grow 800 acres of soybeans, 800 acres of corn, and raise 150 head of feeder steers on 150 acres of pasture. His cropping practices include conservation tillage on about half the acres and no-till on the other half.

Deb began her career as a fifth-grade teacher, but today she manages the financial aspects of the farm, tracks yield on each field, and enjoys running the grain cart during harvest. Ron and Deb have three sons with families of their own. Mike lives nearby, Steven lives in the Detroit area, and Brian lives in North Carolina.

Though volunteering his time always came naturally for Ron, speaking in front of large groups did not.

“Back in the beginning, getting up to address a crowd was painful,” laughs Ron. “I was terribly nervous and would agonize for days leading up to speaking engagements. Fortunately, the more I did it, the more confident I became. I think that’s key to overcoming something that causes anxiety; practicing more and more so that the fear eventually loses its grip.”

Ron was given the opportunity to present to the United Nations Secretary, General Ban Ki Moon who was at a meeting in St. Louis to discuss how U.S. agriculture could help with small holder farmers in developing countries to improve food security.

During the China trade disputes in 2018, Ron was able to visit the United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Chief Economist. His group shared the compelling message that the existing tariffs were causing the soybean market to collapse.

“Ron deserves a lot of credit for his guidance to the soybean industry during the time of the China tariffs,” says Pitstick. “He was a constant spokesperson for farmers on that issue, advocating for ‘trade, not tariffs,’ fostering positive relationships and communication between agricultural groups and legislative leaders. It was his efforts that resulted in positive outcomes that fall.”

Over his long career, Ron served as President of the American Soybean Association (ASA) and as Chairman of the Illinois Soybean Association. He also served on the Board of Directors of the United States Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and is past chairman of the Illinois Council for Best Management Practices (CBMP), a coalition of ag groups in Illinois promoting improving farmers' resource management and profitability. Currently, Ron serves on the Community National Bank Board in Monmouth, Illinois, and the Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District Board.

Most recently, Ron has a new title to add to his long list of accomplishments: Master Farmer. He and three other Illinois producers were honored at Prairie Farmer magazine’s annual event in Bloomington, Illinois, on Wednesday, March 15th.

“When I think back on my early days on the state soybean board, Ron was the guy I wanted most to be like,” says 2022 Master Farmer and former ISA Chairman, Doug Schroeder. “Ron didn’t talk all the time, but when he did, it was spot on. He always made time for me and encouraged me to look for leadership opportunities. For Ron, it’s never about personal wins or becoming a big name in agriculture. It’s about improving the board he’s on, improving the community he’s in, and improving the industry of which we’re all a part.”

Ron was named one of Prairie Farmer's 2023 Master Farmers.

But even the thrill of this prestigious award isn’t enough to get Ron to talk about his own achievements. He’d rather hear about how your family is doing, what’s going well on your farm and what isn’t, and talk about what’s next for Illinois.

“I’m so optimistic about the future of Illinois agriculture, and that’s due to the young people who are getting involved. It’s true that the average age of farmers continues to rise, but the people I interact with in agribusiness are young people. And best of all, they want to stay in rural Illinois and continue working in agriculture.”

“I see young talent coming up in boards, coming up in state organizations, and even inventing new ways to make the agriculture scene accessible to the world outside,” says Ron. “The future for Illinois isn’t just bright; it’s beaming with potential.”

Ron and Deb have three sons with families of their own. Mike lives nearby, Steven lives in the Detroit area, and Brian lives in North Carolina.