Illinois Dept. of Agriculture Director Costello Presented Awards to Southern Illinois Farmer and
Central Illinois Conservation Champion on Ag Day at the Illinois State Fair
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois Stewardship Alliance presented two awards recognizing outstanding farmer leaders for their contribution to sustainable and local agriculture in Illinois.
Executive Director of the Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD) Eliot Clay received the third annual Woody Woodruff Conservation Award. The award is named in memory of Robert “Woody” Woodruff, a beloved conservation leader, Macoupin County farmer, and Illinois Stewardship Alliance staff member who passed away after a battle with cancer in 2020, and recognizes a farmer who exemplifies Woody’s passion for soil, water, and community.
St. Rose farmer Jill Vonder Haar of Main Street Pastures received the 2025 Local Food Changemaker of the Year Award for her exemplary leadership in growing the local food economy and helping Illinois farmers feed Illinois.
Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello presented the awards at the Ag Day Breakfast at the Illinois State Fair.
2025 Awardees
Eliot Clay, 2025 Woody Award Winner
In honor of our beloved colleague Woody Woodruff
Illinois Stewardship Alliance proudly announces Eliot Clay, Executive Director of the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, as the recipient of the 2025 Woody Woodruff Conservation Award. This award, named in memory of Robert “Woody” Woodruff, a beloved conservation leader and Alliance staff member who passed away after battling cancer in 2020, honors individuals who embody Woody’s enduring passion for soil, water, and community.
In just his first year, Eliot has demonstrated exceptional leadership for conservation programs and infrastructure needed to help farmers protect our soil, water, and natural resources during a pivotal time for Illinois’ 97 Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Stepping into his role amid deep uncertainty, Eliot brought clarity, focus, a bright and positive spirit, and determination to the conservation community. Eliot took those lessons and put them to work to develop innovative solutions to create long term resources for the essential, on the ground work of the county SWCDs.
He forged a coalition and brought together allies to champion conservation infrastructure and uses them as fuel for this work by consistently centering the needs of farmers and the land in his work. With foresight and integrity, he has advanced policies and partnerships that reflect a deep understanding of conservation’s role in agriculture. His leadership has created space for farmers to be recognized as essential stewards of our natural resources.
Eliot’s collaborative spirit and policy expertise have made him a respected voice in the conservation space and beyond. Much like Woody, Eliot leads with heart and vision—ensuring that conservation is not just preserved, but strengthened for future generations.
Eliot Clay’s commitment to soil and water conservation, coalition-building, and long-term solutions exemplifies the spirit of the Woody Woodruff Conservation Award. He is a true champion for Illinois’ land, people, and the conservationists working every day to protect both.
Jill Vonder Haar, 2025 Local Food Changemaker of the Year
Jill Vonder Haar is the 2025 Local Food Changemaker of the Year presented by Illinois Stewardship Alliance to farmers who show exemplary leadership in growing the local food economy and helping Illinois farmers feed Illinois.
Jill, her husband Chad, and their children own and operate Main Street Pastures in Saint Rose, IL where they produce locally-grown, high quality, pasture raised pigs, chickens, cattle, sheep, and turkeys.
Jill believes in knowing where your food comes from and how it’s raised. Their farm practices regenerative agriculture, which includes no-till, cover cropping, plant diversity, crop rotation, and adaptive grazing practices. Using those principles, they grow the grains used in their feed rations, manage pastures for optimum growth and soil health, and produce nutrient dense proteins for their customers.
Jill joined the Illinois Stewardship Alliance in 2019 because she is passionate about the power of local food and knew she could make meaningful contributions to shaping food and farm policy.
Since joining the Alliance, Jill has participated in and hosted numerous legislative farm tours, inviting state and federal lawmakers to tour the farm and learn about the impact that small farms and sustainable practices have on communities, as well as the issues and challenges they face. She has opened her farm to fellow farmers to share their knowledge and help build resilient local food systems.
Jill has been an outspoken advocate for multiple pieces of legislation that improved local food systems. She supported efforts to improve cottage food regulations, make it easier for farmers of meat, dairy, and eggs to sell at farmers markets, and most recently worked tirelessly to improve on processing exemptions for Illinois farmers.
Recognizing the need for more poultry processing in Illinois Jill joined our processing campaign team that worked to improve the poultry raisers exemption and make it easier for farmers who wanted to sell live animals, joined lobby days to share her story with lawmakers, and testified multiple times to animals to consumers who then would process that animal themselves. She worked with members to craft bill language, contacted legislators, and testified at multiple House and Senate committee hearings. Her actions inspired broad support from every lawmaker. As a result, our processing exemption reform legislation passed unanimously in both General Assembly chambers.
In addition to her exemplary efforts in shaping state policy to support local farms, Jill has been a key cog in launching Southern Illinois Farmers for Soil Health, a group which looks to promote growing healthy soils, building community, and being good stewards of the land.