Jennifer Tirey

Jennifer Tirey, born and raised in Southern Illinois continues to co-operate her family farm in Gallatin and Hardin Counties with her aunt and younger sister.  She attended Eastern Illinois University and graduated with honors with a BA in Political Science in 1998.  After graduation, she worked as a campaign staffer for the Democratic Party of Illinois and later was selected as a candidate for the Legislative Internship Program through the University of Illinois at Springfield.  

Tirey completed her internship with the Illinois House of Representatives and worked for the Speaker of the Illinois House on the Issues Development Staff where she was later offered a permanent staff position.  In 2002, Tirey became the Director of Legislative Affairs at Central Management Services and in 2005 she went on to become the Deputy Director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum running the day-to-day operations for one of the highest attended presidential museums in the country.  

In 2011, Tirey accepted a position as the Bureau Chief of Marketing and Promotions at the Illinois Department of Agriculture where she promoted small to mid-sized Illinois food and agribusinesses. And in October 2014, Tirey became the first executive director for the Illinois Council on Best Management Practices (CBMP); an organization working to assist and encourage the adoption of best management practices (BMPs) to protect and enhance the sustainability of agriculture in Illinois through outreach and education.

On July 1, 2015 Tirey left CBMP and accepted the position of Executive Director at the Illinois Pork Producers Association. In her spare time, Tirey enjoys running, yoga and cheering from the sidelines at football/basketball games and track events with her husband, Kevin, for their two children, Flynn and Katharine.