Delegates at the Illinois Farm Bureau’s 110th Annual Meeting in Chicago did not vote to remove President Brian Duncan or Vice President Evan Hultine. They upheld a ruling that a motion to add their removal and replacement to the agenda was out of order. The meeting also exposed disagreements over leadership accountability, officer terms and the vice president’s employment status, against the backdrop of a separate dispute with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) over Country Financial’s membership policy.
Why delegates sought a removal vote
The meeting took place amid a dispute between the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) and AFBF. In September 2024, Country Financial announced that IFB membership would no longer be required for its non-farm customers. IFB is affiliated with Country Financial, and some leaders served on both organizations’ boards. AFBF said IFB membership would be terminated.
After mediation failed in November, IFB sued AFBF in McLean County Circuit Court. At the time of the annual meeting, AFBF had deferred termination until 30 days after the current lawsuit was resolved, according to Agriculture.com / Successful Farming’s December 2024 account. IFB President Brian Duncan said the deferral gave the organization the same outcome as the injunctive relief it had sought. That was Duncan’s characterization of AFBF’s decision, not a court finding.
Delegates did not get a vote on removing the officers
At the Monday business session, Adams County delegate Ben Hugenberg moved to amend the agenda to add new business that would facilitate removing and replacing Duncan and Hultine. Outside counsel Paul Winters and parliamentarian Nancy Sylvester ruled the motion out of order, citing a requirement for 20 days’ written notice to remove a director.
Delegates appealed the ruling. More than two hours of procedural discussion followed, then a secret paper ballot. The delegate body upheld the chair’s ruling, so the proposed removal vote was not placed on the agenda. The result was a decision about whether the motion could proceed under the meeting’s rules—not a vote affirming or rejecting either officer’s performance.
Two bylaw proposals failed
The delegate body also considered two bylaw changes, both of which fell short of passage.
| Proposal | Reported support | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Board proposal to reclassify the vice president as a part-time employee | 62%; two-thirds was required | Failed |
| Kane County proposal to reduce president and vice president terms from two years to one | 34% | Failed |
The vote figures were reported by Agriculture.com / Successful Farming; they are not a separately audited vote dataset.
What the vice president employment proposal raised
The employment-classification debate concerned whether the vice president could continue receiving a per diem or should instead become a salaried part-time employee. IFB General Counsel Jennifer Vance said the board had voted to reclassify the position effective January 1, 2025, and argued, “We have to follow the law regardless of what the bylaws say.” The amendment failed, leaving a compliance question to resolve. The meeting account does not establish the eventual legal or administrative outcome.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Rank #3
Why delegates disagreed about officer terms
Supporters of one-year terms argued that more frequent elections could improve accountability and give members more opportunities to be consulted. Opponents said two-year terms give officers time to complete work and reduce the burden of campaigning. A Clark County delegate was quoted as saying, “A lot of folks in the room, including us, feel left out. We’re ignored. We’re not consulted.” The meeting report noted that media were removed from the room and that some speakers were difficult to identify.
The meeting also brought director turnover
Four of the nine district directors up for reelection lost their races. New directors were elected in Districts 6, 8, 12 and 14, according to the December 2024 meeting report. These election results were distinct from the failed attempt to add an officer-removal vote to the agenda.
Rank #4
What happened after the 2024 meeting
The conflict and leadership story continued beyond Chicago. In a report published September 29, 2026, and updated September 30, WGLT, published by NPR Illinois, reported that Philip Nelson defeated Duncan in a December 2025 election. It also reported that Country Mutual Insurance Company, Country Financial’s legal name, filed a separate suit against AFBF and asked that it be consolidated with IFB’s 2024 lawsuit.
The 2026 report describes ongoing litigation and allegations, not a final judgment. Nelson said, “Country Financial is critical to IFB and our county Farm Bureaus’ success. IFB stands behind our insurance affiliate.” AFBF’s spokesperson called Country’s accusation “categorically false.” Both are statements by interested parties; neither should be treated as an independent finding by a court.
Recommended Free Tools
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
