(Neillsville, WI) April 24, 2024 – Lowell Akers, AFM, ARA, Retired, (at left in photo) has been named to the membership Hall of Fame by the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Manages and Rural Appraisers. A plaque marking the fete was presented to him here today by Russ Hiatt, AFM, ARA, Hiatt Farmland Services, Champaign, IL, immediate-past president of the Society.
“This is an especially proud day for me because I have known Lowell for many, many years,” Hiatt said. “And it’s a unique honor to give to Lowell because he’s never been actively involved as an officer, or a leading committee chair. But he’s always been here as a mentor for dozens of us and as a member who has consistently attended Chapter meetings and events for decades, literally. And as an appraiser, he has been a professional of the standards. He is the level we all aspire to.”
“This is a great honor,” Akers stated, when presented the award. “I’ve had a wonderful career working in Illinois, have met and worked with so many great friends and hundreds of clients over
Akers, now 95, joined the Illinois Chapter and the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers in 1967. That started a career path that found him employed by a number of companies including banks and farm management firms. He retired in 2023 as a member of the Akers Group based in Neillsville. “I’m especially proud that my two boys, Mark, (Neillsville, WI) and Greg (DeKalb, IL) have kinda followed in my footsteps and are active in the industry, today. And I have two grandchildren who are looking to go into the business as well.”
The Hall of Farm is the highest citation the Chapter bestows on its members. It is typically awarded at the organization’s annual meeting, but Akers, who now lives with Son Mark in Wisconsin, was unable to attend the ISPFMA meeting in February. Son Greg spoke on his behalf at that event. Members of the Chapter’s leadership team made the trek to Neillsville and physically presented the plaque marking the citation.
-30-