SOMONAUK — Local farmer Mark Tuttle recently was elected president of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau by the board of directors. Tuttle is the 15th president to serve the 100-year-old organization.

“I’m honored and humbled to serve as president of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau,” Tuttle said. “During this 100th anniversary of the organization I am reminded of our past leaders and the foresight they had in the development and advancement of Farm Bureau.”

Tuttle, 50, has served in several leadership capacities in the past 10 years. He has been the organization’s vice president for two years and has served on Farm Bureau’s executive committee.

In the past, he was been vice president of the Farm Bureau Foundation, and a member of the ag literacy committee, political committee and bylaws committee. Hw also is a graduate of Farm Bureau’s ALOT leadership program.

“I am looking forward to working with the board of directors and members, and to continuing our progressiveness as we address future challenges and meet the needs of our organization,” Tuttle said.

Tuttle’s farming enterprises include corn, soybeans, wheat, sweet corn and peas, based in Somonauk Township. He also has a trucking business for hauling grain, feed, seed and horticulture products throughout the Midwest.

After graduating from Somonauk High School, Tuttle earned an associate degree at Joliet Junior College and a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Iowa State University. Tuttle serves as a trustee of Suydam United Methodist Church and the Somonauk Fire District.

He and his wife, Christiana, have five children: Katherine, 25, of DeWitt, Iowa, account manager for River Valley Coop; Elaine, 24, Sandwich, dental hygienist for Family Dental Care in Sycamore; Paula, 22, senior at Illinois State University majoring in music education; Nelsen, 19, freshman at Joliet Junior College; and Erik, 14, eighth grader at Somonauk Middle School.

Joining Tuttle as officers and members of DeKalb County Farm Bureau’s Executive Committee for 2012 are vice president Jamie Walter, DeKalb; treasurer Steve Drendel, Malta; secretary Roy Plote, Leland; and Lyle Paul and Mike Schweitzer, DeKalb.