In 1912, an enterprising and forward-thinking group of farmers, businessmen, and bankers joined together to form the DeKalb County Soil Improvement Association. This grassroots coalition became the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, the first Farm Bureau in Illinois and among the oldest in the United States. Originally dedicated to improving crop production, this farmer-led organization has evolved, finding solutions to challenges posed by America's evolving agriculture needs and offering a wide variety of assistance to farmers, rural families and their communities.