March Board Spotlight:
Gene Rademacher
With more than two decades of service, Gene Rademacher brings experience, dedication, and a deep commitment to agriculture to the Kankakee County Farm Bureau (KCFB) Board of Directors. Gene has served on the Board for 22 years, offering steady leadership and a strong voice for local farmers and the agricultural community.
Gene began farming in the 1970s after earning a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics. His lifelong career in agriculture reflects both passion and perseverance. While he became partially retired in 2020, his involvement in agriculture and community service remains as strong as ever.
What Gene values most about the Kankakee County Farm Bureau and the Illinois Farm Bureau is their role in keeping farmers and the public informed about agricultural issues, news, and policy. Through Farm Bureau, Gene gained a broader understanding of both local and statewide agricultural challenges and opportunities. He also appreciates the support system and sense of community the organization provides to farmers.
Gene believes it’s important for people to know that Farm Bureau is more than an advocacy organization—it’s a hands-on supporter of agriculture and education. The Kankakee County Farm Bureau is actively involved in programs such as Ag in the Classroom, Kids Day at the Farm, Kankakee County Fair activities, agricultural scholarships, and ag education initiatives, all of which help strengthen the connection between agriculture and the community.
His reason for becoming a Farm Bureau member is simple and heartfelt: a commitment to agriculture and the opportunity to be part of a community of fellow farmers. When asked to serve on the Board, Gene was honored, and he has truly enjoyed the many years he has spent serving the organization.
Outside of farming, Gene enjoys traveling with his wife, Marilynn, along with family and friends, and spending quality time with loved ones. Community service is also a major part of his life. His involvement includes the Kankakee Soil & Water Conservation Board, Kankakee County Zoning Board, Sumner Township Trustee, Grant Park Fire District Trustee, St. Patrick Church Parish Council and Finance Committee, and part-time work with the Kankakee County FSA.
Gene and his wife, Marilynn, who taught elementary school for 37 years, have three children: Matt Rademacher, Amy Kijewski, and Jennifer Wedic. They are also proud grandparents to 11 grandchildren: Rebekah, Andrew, Sarah, and Jessica Rademacher; Megan, Robert, Kayla, and Allison Kijewski; and Briana, Myles, and Parker Wedic.
When it comes to food, Gene enjoys a wide variety, and his favorite seasons are spring and fall. As for farming, he doesn’t choose between planting and harvest—he enjoys both, because he simply enjoys farming.
The Kankakee County Farm Bureau is grateful for Gene Rademacher’s decades of service, leadership, and unwavering dedication to agriculture and the community.
February Board Spotlight:
Brendan Surprenant
For the past three years, Brendan Surprenant has proudly served on the Kankakee County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. A dedicated farmer, husband, and father, Brendan brings energy, sincerity, and a deep love for agriculture to the board and to his community.
Brendan’s favorite part of being involved with both the Kankakee County Farm Bureau and the Illinois Farm Bureau is the opportunity to meet new people—locally and statewide—who share a common goal: supporting and strengthening agriculture. Whether connecting with fellow farmers or networking with leaders across Illinois, he values the sense of unity and shared purpose that Farm Bureau fosters.
One thing Brendan believes everyone should know about the Farm Bureau is its grassroots foundation. Beyond advocating for agriculture, the organization also invests heavily in the local community through grants, scholarships, and educational opportunities, helping support the next generation and ensure agriculture remains strong in Kankakee County.
Brendan’s own journey with the Farm Bureau began years ago at the Kankakee County Fair. When he was just 17 or 18, the former Farm Bureau manager encouraged him to join for scholarship opportunities and to get involved in Young Leaders. Brendan jokingly agreed—on the condition that the manager come help milk cows. When that didn’t happen, Young Leaders wasn’t in the cards, but his connection to Farm Bureau remained—and ultimately led to his board service today.
When he’s not on the farm or serving the community, Brendan enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, and running the smoker. His favorite meal? A perfectly cooked blackened ribeye topped with sautéed onions, served with a twice-baked potato.
Brendan’s favorite season is summer, though his favorite time on the farm is unquestionably harvest season.
He and his wife, Sarah Surprenant, who works in sales, ag retail, and real estate, are raising three wonderful children Margaret, Caroline, and Raymond.
Brendan brings both heart and humor to the Kankakee County Farm Bureau Board, helping represent local agriculture with passion and authenticity. We are proud to have him as part of our leadership team.
January Board Spotlight:
Paula Karlock
For two decades, Paula Karlock has been a dedicated member of the Kankakee County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, bringing passion, experience, and a deep commitment to agriculture and her community. A lifelong farmer, Paula has built her service around advocacy, education, and supporting her fellow producers across Kankakee County.
Paula values the Farm Bureau for its strong network of farmers who share both the challenges and joys of agriculture. Staying informed on farm news, policy developments, and statewide issues is important to her, and she appreciates how the organization helps keep its members up to date. One of her most memorable experiences was participating in the Ag in the Classroom Bike Ride, where she enjoyed exploring different parts of Illinois and building lasting friendships along the way. Paula wants others to know that the Kankakee County Farm Bureau is a trusted resource for guidance on agricultural issues. Whether navigating policy or addressing local concerns, the organization "goes to bat for farmers,'' leveraging the expertise of the Illinois Farm Bureau's talented staff to provide research, insight, and direction.
Her involvement with the Farm Bureau began during a major local issue-an effort by the Fish and Wildlife Agency to acquire productive farmland along the Kankakee River for a proposed refuge.
Paula helped lead the opposition effort, ultimately hand-delivering petitions collected from local farmers, landowners, and residents to Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Her commitment to agriculture has continued ever since. She also serves on the Kankakee County Farm Bureau Foundation Board and the Ag in the Classroom Committee, reflecting her passion for agricultural education. Outside of farming and community involvement, Paula enjoys traveling with her husband, Joe Karlock, a Highway Township employee. Together, they are self-described National Park enthusiasts and have visited many parks across the country, often exploring remote trails and scenic landscapes. Paula also loves scrapbooking, spending time with family-especially her grandchildren James, Anna, Ava, and Jace Provost, and cherishing moments with her children, Allison Provost and Trenton Karlock.
Spring is Paula's favorite season, and while she enjoys the renewal it brings, harvest season remains her favorite time on the farm.
Paula also serves as the Treasurer of the Momence School District, having held the role even longer than her tenure on the Farm Bureau Board. She is actively involved in children's programs at First Baptist Church Momence as well.
The Kankakee County Farm Bureau is proud to highlight leaders like Paula- individuals whose dedication and advocacy help strengthen agriculture, uplift our communities, and prepare the next generation for the future of farming.