HR0239 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0239 LRB103 32105 MST 61114 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Jeff Maierhofer on his 34-year career at Seneca High School and recognize the positive impact he has had on students; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Maierhofer received his education at the University of Illinois and obtained a dual major in agriculture education and agriculture economics in 1988 and a master's degree in agriculture education in 1992; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Maierhofer embarked on his career in education in 1989 in Seneca, and his teaching has included agriculture industry, agriculture sciences, horticulture, and agribusiness management; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Maierhofer's career in education at Seneca has had a particular focus on agriculture; he teaches agriculture, is the advisor of Seneca's Future Farmers of America (FFA), and manages the school's land lab; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Maierhofer has represented agricultural education in leadership capacities across the country; Seneca's agricultural education department and its Future Farmers of America have been recognized on the state and national level, including 18 consecutive Illinois FFA Outstanding Chapter recognitions; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Maierhofer is a member of the Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers (IAVAT), the Illinois Association of Career and Technical Educators (IACTE), the National Association of Agriculture Educators (NAAE), and the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE); and

WHEREAS, Jeff Maierhofer served on the Illinois FFA Board of Directors, was elected as the 2004-2005 National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) National President, spent two terms on the National Council for Agricultural Education, was a consultant to the National FFA Board of Directors, Trustees of the National FFA Foundation, and served as the National Vice President of the Ag Ed Division of the Association of Career and Technical Educators (ACTE) from 2010-2012; in addition, he serves as an associate director for the LaSalle County Soil and Water Conservation District; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Maierhofer was awarded the 2022 National ACTE Carl Perkins Community Service Award from the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), which recognizes individuals who have used CTE to make a significant impact on their community and who have demonstrated leadership in programs and activities that promote student involvement in community service; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Maierhofer is a local historian and served on the board of directors of the Seneca Historical Guild, where he was the lead author for The Story of Seneca, Illinois and helped create the Seneca Area Heritage Museum; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Maierhofer is a lifelong resident of Seneca, where he still lives on the family's Centennial Farm north of town; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Maierhofer's wife, Jenna, is also an educator and teaches math at Seneca High School, and the couple are proud parents of two vibrant boys, Levi James and Calvin Jon; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Maierhofer enjoys working with his father on the farm and plays baseball and softball whenever possible; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Jeff Maierhofer on his retirement and thank him for his 34 years of service as an educator at Seneca High School and for the invaluable impact he has made on the lives of his students, his community, and the industry of agriculture; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Jeff Maierhofer as a symbol of our respect and esteem.