HR0050 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0050 LRB103 25932 ECR 52283 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to recognize Mark and Karen DeDecker and family on the occasion of being named the 2023 Family of the Year by the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA); and

WHEREAS, Mark DeDecker and his wife, Karen, are the proud owners of the DeDecker Pork Farm in Cambridge, where they currently farm 2,500 acres of corn and soybeans and market 7,000 hogs annually with their son, Lance; and

WHEREAS, The DeDecker family history in Henry County goes back over 75 years and spans over three generations, beginning in 1936 when Mark DeDecker's grandparents, Eli and Lucy DeDecker, purchased 160 acres for his 21-year-old father, Marvin; shortly after the purchase, Marvin married Mark's mother, Betty, and they lived and worked on the farm; at the time, as it was not uncommon for a farm to be very diversified, the couple raised cows, chicken, and pigs and grew corn, soybeans, and oat and hay on rotation; and

WHEREAS, In the 1970s, the DeDecker family farm was one of the first farms to begin farrowing inside at a time when livestock was primarily raised outdoors and many of their neighbors continued to raise 5,000 to 10,000 head on pasture; their first indoor hog barn was originally a chicken house that once homed 12,000 laying hens; later, their chicken house was disassembled, moved from its original location, and converted into a 40 x 214-foot farrow-to-finish production line building; their original barn and crib used for livestock still stands on the DeDecker Pork Farm today; and

WHEREAS, From an early age, Mark DeDecker had a passion for livestock; he participated in 4-H, winning first at the state level and fourth at the national level for 4-H Livestock Judging; he later attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was chosen as one of the top five outstanding seniors in the College of Agriculture; and

WHEREAS, After receiving his Bachelor of Science and Master of Swine Production, Mark DeDecker's interest in the pork industry became a career when he started farming full-time in 1973; while completing his master's degree, he married Karen DeSmith, who was also born and raised in Henry County; the couple initially resided in Champaign until he finished his master's degree; they then moved back to Cambridge, where he partnered with his father, farming 640 acres and raising 1,000 hogs in a farrow-to-finish operation; while he and his father tended to the farm, Karen was employed at Deere & Company; and

WHEREAS, Mark and Karen DeDecker started their family and had three children, Jacob, Lance, and Ashley; he became involved in the organizational side of the industry and began serving on the Henry County Pork Producers Board; throughout his career, he has served as a director on the board for over 50 years; during that time, he has held the position of president and scholarship chair, with the latter role giving him the opportunity to award several hundred thousand dollars to deserving students interested in pursuing a career in agriculture; and

WHEREAS, When the children were little, Karen DeDecker served as the secretary on the Henry County Fair Board; later, she was a bookkeeper for the Henry and Rock Island County Farm Bureau offices, splitting her time between both; she eventually worked full-time at the Rock Island Farm Bureau, retiring after 16 years of service; while raising the children and working full-time, she continued doing a number of tasks on the farm, including driving the grain cart, loading and moving hogs, and running for parts; and

WHEREAS, The entire DeDecker family has remained very active in agriculture, with all of Mark and Karen's children pursuing an agriculture-related career; their son, Jacob, was named the Illinois Pork State Ambassador in 1998; later, he received his Ph.D. and spent 15 years at the Michigan State University Extension, where he served as a presenter and leader to visiting scholars and partnered with countries around the world; he is currently the director of the extension program and associate dean for Engagement at the University of Nevada in Reno; his wife, Kristina, homeschools their four children, Hayven, Isaiah, Zander, and Elijah; and

WHEREAS, Mark and Karen DeDecker's daughter, Ashley, also earned her Ph.D. and currently works as the director of Production Research for Smithfield Foods, Inc.; throughout her career, she has served on several national committees and speaks at livestock meetings in the U.S. and around the world; her husband, Ashley Weaver, is an Alcohol Law Enforcement Special Agent; they reside in North Carolina with their two children, Conley and Blair; and

WHEREAS, Mark and Karen DeDecker's other son, Lance, finished his studies at Black Hawk College East Campus and returned to the farm in 2001, where he partnered with his parents; today, he and his wife, Lindsey, live on part of the farm a mile away with their two children, Colt and Chance; and

WHEREAS, In addition to Mark DeDecker's leadership role on the Henry County Pork Producers Board, he also served as a district director for the IPPA for nine years; during his tenure as a board member, he served on the youth and research committees; he also served as chairman of the Illinois Pork Expo when the show made the transition to Springfield after being hosted in Peoria for several decades; after stepping down as a district director, he has continued to remain active at the county level; and

WHEREAS, Mark and Karen DeDecker were named Prairie Farmer Master Farmers in 2016, a prestigious honor that is the longest running recognition for farmers in the country; and

WHEREAS, The DeDecker family has been active in several community organizations over the years, with Mark serving on the Henry County Soil & Water Conservation District for 25 years, the Henry County FSA Board and the Cambridge Library Board for nine years, and the Edwards River Board for 10 years; the family also belongs to St. John Vianney Catholic Church; and

WHEREAS, The DeDecker family continues to make a lasting impression on their community and the pork industry; Mark and Karen have striven to adapt to changes and grow their business while remaining good stewards of the land and caring for their animals; their involvement in local and state activities has not only led to their success but has also been the foundation for their children's success in agriculture; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize Mark and Karen DeDecker and family on being named the 2023 Family of the Year by the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA), and we thank the family for their hard work and dedication to their community and the pork industry; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Mark and Karen DeDecker as an expression of our esteem and respect.