INA, Ill. (April 23, 2026) — Rend Lake College hosted its 49th Annual Ag Banquet on Thursday, April 9, to recognize the milestones and growth of the 2025-2026 academic year. Held in the Mark S. Kern Applied Science Center, the event brought together 53 students, faculty, and industry partners.
Pictured (L-R): Christine Lasater, Jadyn Drake, Charlie Rich, Brandon Henderson, Nick Helmink, Ryan Allen, Kevin Athmer, Max Ambuehl
The banquet included a luncheon courtesy of the Banterra Bank Ag Lending Division. Representatives from Banterra Bank were in attendance to show their support for the next generation of agricultural leaders in southern Illinois.
The highlight of the afternoon was the presentation of the Outstanding Student awards. Faculty members selected individuals from each program area who demonstrated leadership, academic strength, and hands-on skill.
This year, the Agriculture Department was proud to recognize the following award recipients:
Outstanding Student of the Year: Charlie Rich
Outstanding Ag Business Students: Christine Lasater and Jadyn Drake
Outstanding Ag Production Student: Brandon Henderson
Outstanding Ag Mechanics Students: Nick Helmink and Kevin Athmer
Outstanding Diesel Technology Student: Ryan Allen
Outstanding Heavy Equipment Student: Max Ambuehl
"Our students have done some great work this year, and we’re glad we could highlight that today," said RLC Agriculture Professor Kathy Helmers. "We appreciate Banterra Bank for helping us bring everyone together and keeping our program connected to the industry."
For more information about the Rend Lake College Agriculture program, visit rlc.edu/agriculture or email appliedscience@rlc.edu.