Illinois STAR Leadership

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In Illinois, both Champaign County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) have signed affiliate agreements with national STAR to be the state-level sponsors of the STAR Framework in Illinois. Their staff sit on committees at the state and national level and provide programmatic support. Illinois STAR is managed by the Illinois STAR Coordinator, Natalie Kerr, and Illinois STAR Assistant Coordinator, Bruce Henrikson, under the direction of the Illinois STAR Steering Committee and Illinois STAR Science Committee. 

The Illinois STAR Steering committee meets virtually once a month and is responsible for making decisions regarding Illinois STAR goals, structure, and purpose. This includes coordinating with national STAR, identifying potential grants and funding opportunities for Illinois STAR, determining state-level policies, accepting/denying Navigator requests or membership of other committees, and coordinating the day-to-day functions of staff. The committee has members from a broad set of stakeholder groups, and always includes farmers. 

The Illinois STAR Science Advisory Committee meets virtually, approximately quarterly, and is responsible for providing independent, objective, and scientifically credible guidance to the Illinois STAR Steering Committee. These expert opinions are given as individuals, not as representatives of their respective organizations. They review the field form, scoring system, and outcomes estimations annually.  

Illinois STAR is one of many ongoing conservation efforts in the state, and the Science Advisory committee performs an annual review of the field form and scoring system behind the Illinois STAR Tool to advise updates, revision, and development priorities. They also review annual reports of estimated environmental outcomes. Their guidance ensures that the Illinois STAR Stool stays up to date with the latest research, priority crop types, and natural resource concerns across Illinois.