Dr. Robert Easter of Mahomet, Ill., Dr. Gary Minish of Makanda, Ill., and former State Sen. Todd Sieben of Geneseo, Ill., have been named recipients of the 2011 Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) Distinguished Service Award. The award, which is the highest award given by the IFB, was presented to recipients during the Illinois Agricultural Association's annual meeting held in Chicago.

Currently serving as interim Chancellor and Provost of the University of Illinois, Dr. Robert Easter is chief budgetary officer for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus, overseeing all financial programs, policies and priorities of the campus to ensure a memorable and educational experience for all students.

Dr. Easter began his career at the University of Illinois in 1976 as a professor of swine nutrition and management. In 1996, he was named Head of the Department of Animal Sciences and, in 2002, was named Dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES).

Dr. Easter has worked with the American Soybean Association and served on the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences Advisory Council. He has served on Boards of Directors of the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Council and the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization Institute. He was a member of the Vision for Illinois Agriculture Steering Committee and was appointed by former President George W. Bush to the Board of International Food and Agricultural Development, serving as chair in 2007.

Dr. Easter has received numerous awards and honors. He received his undergraduate degree in agricultural education and a Master of Science degree in animal nutrition from Texas A&M University. He completed his doctorate in animal science at the University of Illinois. He and his wife, Cheryl, reside in Mahomet, Ill., and have three grown children.

Dr. Gary Minish recently retired as the Provost of Southern Illinois University. Prior to serving as Provost, Dr. Minish served as Dean of the College of Agriculture Sciences at Southern Illinois University, where he worked diligently to increase student enrollment in the college, build relationships with agriculture industry members, raise the stature of the colleges and departments he headed, as well as raise money for structural updates to both the university farm and agriculture building.  

Dr. Minish began his career at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. A renowned livestock breeder and judge, Dr. Minish has judged more than 60 major shows around the world and coached the livestock judging team at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University for more than 20 years. He also was elected as president of the American Association of State Colleges of Agriculture and Renewable Resources in 2007, and received the Illinois Soybean Association Friend of Agriculture Award in 2010.

Dr. Minish received his undergraduate degree in animal science from Iowa State University and his doctoral degree in animal science from Michigan State University. He and his wife, Roberta, reside in Makanda, Ill.

Currently working as a business consultant, former Sen. Todd Sieben's designation as a Distinguished Service Award winner comes from his nearly 20 years of service in the Illinois State Legislature. Sieben served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1987 to 1992 and in the Illinois Senate from 1993 to 2007.

He advocated for increased use of renewable fuels, expanding the livestock industry and protecting agricultural research and business development. Specifically, Sieben successfully championed the Livestock Management Facilities Act, Illinois Family Farmer Support Act and Illinois Swine Market Development Act.

In 2003, Sieben was named Assistant Senate Republican Leader. Sieben also served as the Chairman of the Illinois Senate Agriculture and Conservation Committee, as well as numerous other committees having to do with rural life and Illinois agriculture.    

Prior to serving in the Illinois State Legislature, Sieben served on the Henry County Planning Committee, Henry County Extension Council and was involved in the Henry County Farm Bureau. He also has been involved with many civic organizations.

Sieben earned his undergraduate degree in business administration from Western Illinois University, served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy from 1968 to 1972 and is a Vietnam veteran. He and his wife, Kay, currently reside in Geneseo, Ill., and have three children and seven grandchildren.

The IFB's Distinguished Service Award honors the memory and service of Charles Shuman, a revered Moultrie County farm leader who served as president of both IFB and of the American Farm Bureau Federation.