Dassow family’s efforts in east-central Illinois earn 2025 Pheasants Forever ‘National Farmer of the Year’ honor
So far, 2025 has been a big year for habitat restoration for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Wildlife program in Illinois. This program, known as the “Partners Program,” specializes in collaborating with diverse partners across the state to restore prairies and wetlands.
In the heart of this focus area, one family farm in the state has been dedicated to restoring native prairie and wetlands for over 40 years. Duane Dassow, of Dassow Family Farms, began this undertaking in the early 1980s. More recently, his son, John, has continued their legacy on their farms and neighboring farms across multiple counties.
