Farm Credit Illinois recently hired seven employees throughout its 60-county territory: Michael Burns, of Bloomington, Jon Cook, of Normal, Megan Humphres, of Toledo, Chea Mueller, of Highland, Clayton Reiser, of Champaign, Karli Verheyen, of Woodlawn, and Jenny Walker, of Cerro Gordo. 

Michael Burns

Burns started Jan. 22 as a loan associate in the commercial lending department based at the financial cooperative’s central office in Mahomet. Burns was raised in McLean County and graduated from Normal Community High School before receiving his bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Southern Illinois University. Burns then earned a master’s degree in MBA from Southern Illinois University. Prior to joining the Farm Credit team, Burns worked for over three years as a senior credit analyst at Heartland Bank and Trust in Bloomington. Burns resides in Bloomington with his fiancé Maria Nunez. He is the son of Roger and Debbie Burns of Bloomington.

Jon Cook

Cook began April 13 as a vice president for the large and agribusiness team in the credit service division and is based at the financial cooperative’s central office in Mahomet. Cook was raised in McLean County and graduated from Bloomington High School before receiving his associate’s degree from Heartland Community College. Cook then earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Illinois State University. Prior to joining the Farm Credit team, Cook worked for 10 years as a commercial loan portfolio manager at Heartland Bank and Trust Company in Bloomington. He is the son of Randy and Marilyn Cook of Bloomington.

Megan Humphres

Humphres started Feb. 5 as an assistant vice president of crop insurance at the Effingham regional office. The Effingham office serves farm families and rural landowners in Clay, Cumberland, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Marion, and Shelby Counties. Humphres spent time on her extended family’s Coles County grain farm and graduated from Kansas High School. She earned an associate’s degree in agriculture from Lake Land College before transferring to Illinois State University and completing a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness and agronomy management. Prior to joining the Farm Credit team, Humphres worked as a crop insurance specialist at First Neighbor Bank in Neoga. Humphres resides in Toledo with her fiancé Lance Moses. She is the daughter of Kevin and Julie Humphres of Kansas, Ill.

Chea Mueller

Mueller started Jan. 2 as a sales and service assistant at the Highland regional office. The Highland office serves farm families and rural landowners in Bond, Clinton, Madison and Washington Counties. Mueller was raised on her family’s Bond County grain farm and graduated from Greenville High School before completing a bachelor’s degree in plant and soil science from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Prior to joining the Farm Credit team, Mueller worked for one year as a program aide at Bond County Community Unit #2 in Greenville. Mueller resides in Highland with her husband Aaron. She is the daughter of Rich and Ronda Reeves of Greenville.

Clayton Reiser

Reiser began March 5 as a crop insurance assistant vice president at the Decatur regional office. The Decatur office serves farm families and rural landowners in DeWitt, Macon, and Moultrie Counties. Reiser was raised in Champaign County and graduated from St. Thomas More High School before receiving his bachelor’s degree in agribusiness with a concentration in markets and management from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to joining the Farm Credit team, Reiser worked for more than three years in agronomy sales at Effingham Equity in Arcola and two years at DuPont Pioneer in seed corn production in St. Joseph.

Karli Verheyen

Verheyen started April 12 as a sales and service specialist in the Mt. Vernon regional office.  The Mt. Vernon office serves farm families and rural landowners in Edwards, Franklin, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Perry, Wayne, and White Counties. Verheyen was raised on her family’s Jefferson County livestock farm and graduated from Mt. Vernon High School before receiving her associate’s degree in ag business and production from Rend Lake College. Prior to joining the Farm Credit team, she worked for three years as a member service representative at GenFed Financial Credit Union in Mt. Vernon.

Jenny Walker

Walker began Dec. 18 as a sales and service specialist at the Decatur regional office. The Decatur office serves farm families and rural landowners in DeWitt, Macon and Moultrie Counties. Walker was raised on her family’s Piatt County farrow-to finish-swine and grain farm. She graduated from Cerro Gordo High School before completing a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to joining the Farm Credit team, Walker worked for one year as a clinical research associate at the Decatur Memorial Hospital Cancer Care Institute and as a medical transcriptionist for seven years at SafeWorks Illinois in Champaign. She was also an assistant farm manager at Quality Swine Farm in Hammond for 15 years. Walker resides in Cerro Gordo with her husband Brandon. They have three children – Jarrett (18), Kali (16), and Lucas (9).