Illinois College’s roots in the agriculture industry run deep. Though the agribusiness management major was launched just five years ago, the liberal arts and agriculture have gone hand-in-hand on the Hilltop for nearly 200 years. Among the spectacular examples of ag professionals the College has educated over the course of its long history is Trustee Jim Spradlin ’82.

Like many IC students, Spradlin was surrounded by agriculture from an early age. He started his career in the GROWMARK System as an accounting trainee and retired in February as CEO. His Illinois College education served him throughout his four-decade career with the company, which has employed numerous IC graduates over the years and recently announced extraordinary gifts to the College in honor of Spradlin’s retirement.

Spradlin majored in economics and business administration as a student long before the agribusiness management program was announced in 2017. As an alumnus and an employer in the industry, Spradlin said he is enthusiastic about the agribusiness program, which is an “ideal fit” for the College and for the region IC students largely come from.

“My only wish is that Illinois College had offered agribusiness when I was on campus 40 plus years ago,” he said. “So many of IC’s students come from rural areas and have a distinctive understanding of the tremendous opportunities available in agriculture as well as the noble purpose we fulfill in feeding the world.”

With the industry in a period of enormous growth in productivity and technology, Spradlin said there will be “many exciting paths of career opportunities” for IC students, as well as a demand for the unique qualities of IC graduates. In his work at GROWMARK, Spradlin had a lot of experience looking forward to what the “farmer of the future” would need so the company could meet those needs.

“The capability to learn, unlearn and relearn are critical skills in a period of swift change,” Spradlin said. “I’m confident that individuals who are well-rounded, creative and have intellectual flexibility will be highly sought after and will develop into valuable thought leaders driving forward improvements in productivity, sustainability and efficiency. IC’s interdisciplinary approach in delivering a rigorous educational experience will help students hone critical skills and enable them to see the forest, not just the trees.”

Spradlin’s own IC experience brought out his intellectual curiosity and exposed him to new things, teaching him those essential critical thinking skills. He says this experience, in conjunction with the work ethic he learned from his parents and the family farm, became important parts of his personal foundation.

Learning how to think critically, to challenge yourself and to be inclusive of others’ opinions is a unique part of what an IC education offers, especially in a rapidly changing field in which technical knowledge and principles can quickly become obsolete, he said. The agribusiness program combines those unique qualities and skills employers want in a rigorous, customizable academic program that also offers rich hands-on learning experiences. IC agribusiness management students graduate prepared for a wide variety of careers in agriculture.

“It’s clear to me that Illinois College students truly do Graduate READY,” Spradlin said. “GROWMARK is fortunate to have several extraordinarily talented IC graduates on our team who are not just skilled in one specific area but are well-rounded and engaging individuals. I’m thinking of GROWMARK team members who are smart, authentic, excellent communicators, open-minded and driven to continuously improve upon their skills and our business.”

Since IC offered its first agribusiness course in January 2018, the program has experienced rapid growth and expanded to offer a fully online degree, giving working adults a flexible option to advance their careers in agriculture. Additionally, an agricultural education program was launched in 2020, giving education students the opportunity to seek licensure as they become teachers who will educate the next generation of farmers and ag leaders. The addition of these academic programs are among the factors that have contributed to IC’s record enrollment in recent years and to the College’s strategic planning for the future.

Spradlin said he’s proud to serve on the Illinois College Board of Trustees, a group of people he described as dedicated to doing their part for current and future IC students.

“I’m so appreciative of the foundation Illinois College established in me that has helped me grow in my career. At GROWMARK, I also benefited from the advice of great mentors and the capable leadership of those who preceded me. My life experiences have instilled in me a strong desire to pay forward and help the next generation thrive,” he said. “It’s all of our responsibility to set the stage for those who follow.”

Spradlin and his wife, Lisbeth Enz Spradlin ’83, reside in Morton. They married after her graduation from Illinois College and have a son and daughter, Ryan and Laura.

Visit ic.edu/agribusiness for more information about the agribusiness management program. Visit online.ic.edu for more information about the flexible agribusiness management online degree. Visit ic.edu/education to learn more about studying ag education at Illinois College.