McLean County Farm Bureau members, Oliver Kragelund and Matt Miller, completed Illinois Farm Bureau’s 2026 Agricultural Leaders of Tomorrow (ALOT) program in March.
“The ALOT program has been valuable to me both personally and professionally, providing a deeper understanding of leadership while staying grounded in the realities of agriculture today,” Miller said. “I appreciated how the program connected leadership development with real‑world agricultural issues, allowing participants to learn from experienced speakers while building meaningful relationships with peers across the ag community.”
Miller is the Crop Underwriting Operations Manager at COUNTRY Financial, where he leads day-to-day crop underwriting operations, including compliance, training, systems and product development. A graduate of Benedictine University, he also completed the CIRB Emerging Leader Program. Miller lives in Bloomington with his wife and son.
“The ALOT program has been an enjoyable and educational experience for me,” Kragelund said. “The coaching and interactions with leading industry professionals have shown me avenues and aspects I had not considered before while honing skills that will benefit me well moving forward.”
Kragelund is a student at Heartland Community College pursuing a career in agricultural safety. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, he transitioned into agriculture, working in grain elevator operations. Following a serious grain bin accident, he shifted his focus to agricultural safety advocacy and risk prevention.
Kragelund and Miller were among the 13 individuals representing 10 counties across Illinois in this year’s graduating class. The class featured a diverse mix of full-time and part-time farmers, as well as agricultural professionals, reflecting a wide range of experiences across the industry.
Now in its 47th year, ALOT has graduated nearly 1,300 leaders since 1979. The seven-session program includes more than 80 hours of instruction focused on communication skills, political engagement, agricultural economics and global issues. Sessions are led by university experts, industry professionals and Illinois Farm Bureau staff.
“ALOT helped me grow as a leader by challenging me to think more strategically, communicate more effectively, and lead with greater intention. I would strongly recommend ALOT to anyone looking to expand their leadership skills and make a lasting impact within agriculture,” Miller said.
This year’s program also placed an added emphasis on public speaking and communication, responding to participant interest in building confidence and leadership presence. Through hands-on exercises and presentations, participants strengthened their ability to share agriculture’s story and lead in their communities.
“To anyone considering the ALOT program, if you have any interest in being a leader in agriculture or are finding yourself in those kinds of positions, I think it is an incredibly valuable asset to add and enhance your skills and mindset,” Kragelund said.
ALOT is sponsored by Illinois Farm Bureau, COUNTRY Financial, Prairie Farms and GROWMARK. To learn more click here.
The 2026 ALOT Graduates included 13 individuals representing 10 counties across Illinois.