A local farmer and 1967 graduate of Monmouth College is to be honored later this month for his contributions to agriculture and his roles in several leadership positions both locally and at the national level.
Wendell Shauman, who operates a 1,100-acre corn and soybean farm near the Maple City, will be honored with Monmouth’s Distinguished Alumnus Award at the Alumni Impact Awards ceremony, part of the school’s Homecoming weekend festivities October 22-24.
A chemistry major at Monmouth College, Shauman went on to earn his master’s degree and a doctorate in genetics from the University of Nebraska before serving in several noteworthy positions.
He was a corn breeder for Funk Seeds International and managing the company’s Midwest territory, he was the chair of the U.S. Grains Council, serving seven years on its board and traveling to three dozen countries to encourage those foreign nations to purchase grains produced in the United States.
Shauman has served in a plethora of other boards and committees, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Variety Protection Board, National Corn Growers Association Research Committee, the Illinois Farm Bureau Board, the Illinois Soybean Board, the Warren County Farm Bureau Board, and the Illinois Corn Market Board — for which he served as chairman for a year.
In 2015, Shauman was named an Eagle Award recipient, the Illinois Farm Bureau’s highest award for agriculture industry advocates.
In addition to that, he is still heavily involved with his alma mater, going above and beyond his connection with the class of 1967 by keeping track of and engaging with the classes three years ahead and behind.
He also works with the chapter of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, providing valuable networking opportunities, and is currently a member of the Alumni Board of Directors, serving on its Nominations Committee.
