Meet the Envoys

Meet the Envoys

By Brynna Sentel

The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) has named the talented group of seven ag industry professionals who make up the ILSoyAdvisor Soy Envoy class for the 2023 growing season.

The program runs from March through October and the Envoys contribute actionable information, advice, and in-season updates via the ILSoyAdvisor blog to support Illinois soybean farmers in their goals of increasing yields and profits while minimizing environmental impact.

“ISA is excited to welcome seven new Soy Envoys for this year’s program,” says Stephanie Porter, Outreach Agronomist for ISA. “Our Soy Envoys work in fields with farmers daily. Our program is a networking opportunity to learn from other agronomic professionals and share soybean knowledge and information with not only each other but also farmers statewide.”

The Soy Envoys will write blogs, provide in-field video updates, and share actionable soybean insight on social media.

Funded by the ISA checkoff program, the ILSoyAdvisor Soy Envoy program has expanded to include agronomy experts from across the state, including crop consultants, industry professionals, and a research student who will be providing local recommendations throughout the season to Illinois farmers.

The 2023 Soy Envoys include:

Crystal Williams

Williams of West Brooklyn, Illinois, serves farmers across northern Illinois through her job as a Pioneer Field Agronomist. She specializes in helping customers find avenues to mitigate white mold pressure by recommending alternative management practices. She has worked with farmers across the Midwest for the last six years and finds the most rewarding part is seeing farmers reach new heights in their operations. Williams is excited to help give back to fellow Illinois farmers. She was raised on a farm in LaSalle County, where she enjoyed growing up around soybeans, corn, wheat, and cattle on her family farm. She attended Kansas State University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in agronomy and a master's degree in agribusiness. WIlliams, her husband Garrett and their daughter have a small farmette that they’ve transitioned to a “funny farm” with a few cows and chickens.

“Williams is the host of Pioneer's Illinois Agronomy Podcast, a podcast that pulls together Pioneer agronomists from across the state to keep growers one step ahead of agronomic issues," says Matt Montgomery, Pioneer Agronomist. “She will be a wonderful addition to the program.”

Michael Hicks

Hicks of Ursa, Illinois, is a High Yield Specialist with Ursa Farmers Cooperative Seed Solutions. Hicks brings 12 years of ag industry experience to the Soy Envoy program and specializes in helping farmers achieve optimal results by implementing effective crop management strategies and providing exceptional support to his growers. Hicks has worked with hundreds of farmers across the country, gaining valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by modern agriculture. He has a strong understanding of the latest trends in crop production, soil health, pest management, and precision agriculture technologies.

Throughout his career, Hicks has placed a strong emphasis on customer service, and has always gone the extra mile to ensure that his clients receive the support they need to succeed. He understands the importance of building strong relationships with customers, and has developed a reputation for his professionalism, integrity and commitment to excellence. Hicks works closely with farmers, agronomists, and industry leaders to develop innovative strategies for improving crop yields and profitability. His expertise, dedication and customer service focus make him an asset to the agriculture industry.

“It is so exciting to have Hicks representing Western Illinois,” says Abigail Peterson, Director of Agronomy for ISA. “Western Illinois usually poses unique climate and IPM needs that could be more closely related to Iowa or Missouri than central Illinois. Hicks’ expertise within nutrient management, cover crops and specialty beans bring even more value to farmers in the area.”

Karen Corrigan

Corrigan of Goodfield, Illinois, is an independent agronomist and co-owner of McGillicuddy Corrigan Agronomics, an agronomic consultant to farmers in the upper Midwest. She is a Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) and has a master's degree in agronomy-weed science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Corrigan also serves as an adjunct instructor at Carl Sandburg College and Heartland Community College teaching classes on agronomy, soils, horticulture, and pesticide application.

She brings 26 years of ag industry experience to the Soy Envoy program and specializes in weeds, herbicides, and pest management. Corrigan is the mother of two elementary aged girls and two doodles. She also records a monthly podcast with her friends Kelsey Litchfield and Jen Campbell called "Girls Talk Ag."

"Corrigan brings a lot of expert knowledge and information to soybean farmers, especially in weed management," says Kelsey Litchfield, Agronomic Outreach Coordinator for ISA. "As an independent agronomist and CCA, she will share agronomic content through ILSoyAdvisor. com, Twitter, and the "Girls Talk Ag" podcast.

Kelly Robertson

Robertson of Benton, Illinois, is the owner and lead agronomist of Precision Crop Services in Benton where they provide agronomic services for their customers including soil testing, crop scouting, data analysis, GPS/GIS services such as variable rate seeding and fertility recommendations as well as farm and agronomy management for their customers. Robertson brings 38 years of ag industry experience to the Soy Envoy program and specializes in soil fertility and precision agriculture. He has been a soil fertility agronomist and precision agriculture consultant in southern Illinois since 1989 while also spending time in farm/ agronomy management roles for farms in southern Illinois.

Robertson is a Certified Professional Agronomist, CCA, Certified 4R Nutrient Management Specialist, 2015 Illinois Soybean Association Double Crop Specialist, 2016 Illinois CCA of the Year, 2017 Illinois Soybean Association Soy Envoy and the 2021 Illinois Soybean Association Dave Rahe Excellence in Soils Consulting Award winner.

“I’ve known Robertson for over 35 years in the role(s) as student, friend, colleague, and for lack of a better phrase, competitor,” says Terry Wyciskalla, Certified Soil Fertility Specialist for Wyciskalla Consulting, LLC. “One of the best things about Robertson is that he speaks his mind, pulls no punches, and does not dance around a subject. Farm producers need this type of advice without the potential of a product being sold after the conversation.”

Kris Ehler

Ehler of Champaign, Illinois, is a Sales Agronomist for Ehler Brothers Company in Thomasboro, Illinois. Ehler is a graduate of the University of Illinois and a CCA. Ehler brings 21 years of ag industry experience to the Soy Envoy program and specializes in early planting, seed treatments, high yield strategies, planting populations and in-season management.

He was the first recipient of the Soybean Master Adviser in 2017 for ISA. Ehler was part of the advisory and agronomy team to help growers Bob and Jason Lakey set the Illinois state soybean record of 108 in 2015 and win the Illinois Yield contest in 2016 and 2017. His social media page, "The Pursuit of 100+ Bushel Soybeans," has helped growers implement early planting and management practices to increase yields. his wife, Tracy, have twin four-year-old girls. When not pursuing high yield soybeans, Ehler enjoys camping, riding motorcycles and live music.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Ehler for over six years as his representative for Stoller USA,” says Mark Mullen, Territory Sales Manager for Stoller USA. “Ehler is very results oriented and customer focused. He commands the latest technology and is the tip of the sword for thinking outside the box as well as implementing innovative products and practices. He is a pioneer of early planted soybeans, a trustworthy resource, and reliable go-to for extracting the most yield from an acre of farm ground.”

Leo Rocha

Rocha of Carbondale, Illinois, is a Post-Doctoral Researcher for Southern Illinois University (SIU). He grew up in southeastern Brazil on a small coffee farm, and has been involved in agriculture for as long as he can remember. Leo received his bachelor's degree in agronomy from Universidade Federal de Espirito Santo. He joined SIU as a graduate student in 2017 and later received his doctorate in agricultural sciences with an emphasis on plant pathology and nematology. His research projects focus on soybean pathology and soybean cyst nematode (SCN) management practices. Rocha looks forward to sharing soybean pathology and disease management information with Illinois farmers.

“Rocha recently won first place at our Soybean Summit Student Research Poster Competition with his research titled, ‘Exploring the suppression of SCN (Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) populations by wheat through a multi-omics approach,'" says ISA Research Agronomist Jennifer Jones. “We’re very excited for him to serve as a Soy Envoy and share his expertise and passion on SCN and plant diseases with soybean growers around the state.”

Matt Herman

Herman of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, is an account manager (DSM) for Burrus Seed Company. He is a 2020 graduate of Southern Illinois University (SIU) and majored in crop, soil, and environmental management with a minor in agribusiness economics. He brings a lifetime of ag industry experience as he grew up on his family farm. While attending SIU, Herman conducted undergraduate research on precision nitrogen management. Upon graduation, he was employed at Wabash Valley Service Company as a Crop Specialist where he became a CCA. As a crop specialist, he managed growers' acres by recommending seed, chemical, fertilizer and specialty products. After a year and a half, Herman decided to follow his passion in the seed industry and joined Burrus Seed Farms.

He and his wife farm alongside his grandfather in Claremont, Illinois. His passion lies in agronomy and he enjoys working with growers to help them achieve goals and ultimately increase their return on investment. Herman strives to continue to learn about new products and practices in order to stay up-to-date with the ever changing agriculture industry. As of recently, he is now a certified commercial aerial applicator where he plans to use new drone technology to research various products on corn, soybean, and wheat acres.

“I have known Herman since shortly after he graduated from college and started working in the retail seed and fertilizer business,” says John Pike, Research Agronomist and Consultant. “ I have been impressed with Herman's thorough understanding of foundational agronomic concepts and his drive to learn all he can. I know Herman will be a great asset to the Soy Envoy program and will continue to benefit many farm operations as his career progresses further.”