Rural Champion Award

Meet the 2026 Rural Champions

Rural leadership takes many forms.

Across Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, people are stepping forward to serve their neighbors, strengthen their communities and advocate for the future of agriculture.

This summer, we asked you to help us recognize them. Now, we're proud to introduce the first-ever Compeer Financial Rural Champions: Madison Flack of Rio, Illinois; Willie Raines of Federal Dam, Minnesota; and Sam Mell of Waunakee, Wisconsin.

Each Rural Champion will be recognized during a college football game in their home state. Through Compeer Giving, each winner also selected a nonprofit organization to receive a $5,000 contribution, extending their impact even further.

Madison Flack | Rio, Illinois

Creating a Community of Support for Foster Families

Madison Flack saw a need in her community and created a way for others to help meet it.

Through Boots & Blessings, the organization she founded, Madison has built a network of support for more than 200 foster children and their families throughout Knox County. From providing essentials to children entering foster care to offering family activities, trusted childcare, holiday meals and gifts, Boots & Blessings surrounds families with practical resources and a caring community.

For Madison, the mission is also personal. As a foster and adoptive mother herself, she understands firsthand the importance of supporting not only children, but the families who care for them.

Madison's leadership has given volunteers, churches, businesses and community members a way to come together around children and families who need their support.

Willie Raines | Federal Dam, Minnesota

Showing Up for His Community, Every Day

Many people in Willie's community know him as their fire chief. But his service doesn't stop when an emergency ends.

Willie Raines continually finds ways to bring people together and support his neighbors. He organizes annual fishing events for local youth and graduating seniors, helps lead a community garden and supports a monthly pop-up food pantry.

As fire chief, Willie also helps protect local farms, agricultural properties and rural residents. But what stands out about his impact isn't one project or one title. It's the consistency with which he shows up.

Whether he's responding to an emergency, mentoring a young person or helping a family access food, Willie leads through service.

Sam Mell | Waunakee, Wisconsin

Turning Experience Into Action for Agriculture

At 20 years old, Sam Mell is already helping shape the future of the rural community and industry that shaped him.

Raised on his family's multigenerational dairy farm, Sam has built a strong connection to agriculture through 4-H, FFA, agricultural organizations and community service. His involvement has taken him from local fairs and dairy breakfasts to Washington, D.C., where he has advocated for agriculture and agricultural education.

After his older sister, Sydni, was paralyzed in an accident on their family farm, Sam turned that experience into action. He has created farm safety videos for high school students and raised thousands of dollars for AgrAbility of Wisconsin to support farmers and agricultural workers with disabilities.

Today, Sam is studying agronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and continues to use his experiences and his voice to advocate for agriculture and its future.