West Central Leadership held their 12th annual leadership luncheon “Hearing From Our Very Own” on Monday at the Warren County History Museum and this year’s speaker was Ken McMillan. West Central Leadership has been in existence since the 1990’s. Their goal is to help shape the leaders of today and tomorrow. There are several areas of involvement such as an annual Leadership Class – the class typically includes 10, or so, students. They meet every other week from January through May. Each class has a topic that acts as a steppingstone toward building leadership skills. The class is also tasked with doing a community service project. Also they host an annual luncheon “Hearing From Our Very Own”. that features someone who grew up locally and has gone on to have extraordinary experiences.
McMillan’s biography as a recipient of the Aces Award of Merit from the University of Illinois is as follows:
From growing up on his family’s North Central Illinois farm, he was active in 4-H and FFA. Kenneth served as the Illinois and National FFA President, which assisted his acceptance into the University of Illinois and the College of ACES. While in college, he was the College Outstanding Freshman, Outstanding Senior on Agricultural Economics, a National Debate Team finalist, President of Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society, and President of Nabor House Fraternity.
Following graduation, he has taught Leadership Development and Introductory Agricultural Economics at the University, served on the Dean’s Advisory Committee , and served on the Agricultural Consumer Economics Advisory committee for three years.
From his time in FFA; to working as Chief Speechwriter for the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture; to aiding the U.S. Congressman Leslie Arends: Illinois State Senator; to working as the assistant to the President, Corporate Secretary, and Executive Director of Information for the Illinois Farm Bureau; Kenneth has given a lifetime of service and leadership to the educational, State and Country agriculture community. He also currently holds the Pattee Endowed Professorship and Full Professor in Political Economy and Commerce at Monmouth College and has been voted four times by students the Outstanding Teacher in the College.
Warren Wessels, retired administrator at the University of Illinois, supported the nomination of McMillan by commenting, “ This recognition us long overdue for such an outstanding graduate of the College. He has a long list of accomplishments related to Agriculture at the Local, State, and National level. He has been an articulate and forceful spokesperson for the Agriculture Industry.”
Currently, McMillan is a retired educator with 20 years at Monmouth College in the business department and is a member of the Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau board.
