CCFB News» December 2022

At the November 9, 2022 meeting of the Cook County Farm Bureau Board, following the Annual Meeting, the Directors elected its leadership team for the upcoming year. The following individuals were selected to lead the Cook County Farm Bureau in 2023.

Ms. Janet McCabe, Orland Park, was re-elected by the Board to serve as the organization’s President, a position she has held since November of 2017. McCabe and her husband, Joe, farm in the southern Cook County area and northern Will County raising corn, soybeans, wheat, and marketing hay/straw. She has served on the Cook County Farm Bureau Board since 2011 and has been a part of the organization’s Team structure since it was created in 2005. She has served in a variety of leadership roles including Secretary/Treasurer, Governmental Affairs Team, Political Action Committee, Public Relations Team, Audit Committee, and Building Committee. She has also served as a director on the Cook County Farm Bureau Foundation® Board. In addition to her on-farm role, Janet is a Registered Nurse and has been practicing for over 30 years.

McCabe said, "It is humbling to be re-elected to another term as President. I really look forward to continuing our work at Cook County Farm Bureau with the goal of having the importance of agriculture in everyone's daily life recognized. I look forward to working with the board to optimize our volunteer base and serve members in the organization."

Mr. Gerald Kopping, Lemont, was re-elected to the Executive Committee as the Vice-President of the Board for a second term. Kopping has been a member of the Cook County Farm Bureau® Board of Directors since 2004 and has served as the Chairman of the Commodities and Marketing Team, Foundation Fundraiser Chair, Executive Finance Committee, and other leadership roles. Gerry, along with his family, operate Kopping Farms where they board 110 horses, farm 600-acres, custom farm 100-acres, and raise 35-head of cattle. In addition to Farm Bureau, Gerry is an active member of St.

James at Sag Bridge Catholic Church in Lemont, the oldest Catholic church in Cook County; a member of the Lemont

Chamber of Commerce; a board member for the Francis Field Youth Foundation; a member of the Land of Lincoln, Illinois, and American Quarter Horse Associations; and a member of the Horsemen’s Council of Illinois. Gerry and his wife, Linda, have three adult children.

Ms. Ruth Zeldenrust, Chicago Heights, was elected Secretary-Treasurer by the Board. She is also Chair of the Audit Committee. She has been a member of the CCFB Board of Directors since 2011 and has been a part of the organization’s team structure since it was created in 2005. She currently serves as Chair of the Governmental Affairs Team and is on the Foundation Board of Directors. She owns and operates Zeldenrust Farm Market and Greenhouses, raising local fresh vegetables and flowers/bedding plants in south Cook County.

Joining these three officers on the Executive Finance Committee for the next year will be board members Mike Rauch and Dan Biernacki, both of Tinley Park. The Executive Finance Committee holds the responsibility of the budgeting, finance, personnel, and day-to-day oversight of the organization. They also joined the three officers as part of the Foundation Board of Directors.            

Mike Rauch	Dan Biernacki

From the Board of Directors, the following leaders will head up programming committees of the organization: Mike Rauch, Public Relations Team; Gerry Kopping, Commodities/Marketing Team; Jim Bloomstrand, Member Relations Team; Mike Rauch, Ag Literacy Team; and Ruth Zeldenrust, Governmental Affairs Team.

Under these individuals’ leadership, the Cook County Farm Bureau will be focused on achieving the goals and objectives approved by the Board of Directors in 2022.

At the beginning of the meeting, the board welcomed new director, Greg Stack, to the board.

President Janet McCabe (L) presents a welcome package to Mr. Greg Stack as a new director on the Cook County Farm Bureau Board