A change of perspective for ‘city boy’ Mark and ‘farm girl’ Becca
Story and Photos by David Blanchette
Becca Johnson grew up on a farm near Pisgah, and her husband Mark Dyer was born and raised in the city of Jacksonville, but that rural-urban dichotomy has since been flipped.
“He is what I would call a city boy and now he’s the Future Farmers of America (FFA) advisor for the high school,” Johnson said. “And it’s interesting that me, being the farm girl, I’m now the banking professional in the city.”
Dyer agreed that going from “city boy” to agriculture teacher and FFA advisor seemed strange at first.
“Luckily, I married into a large farming family so I get a lot of help with what I don’t know,” Dyer said. “And I learn a lot from my students every day.”
Let’s begin the city-country couple’s story with Johnson, one of eight siblings in her family. She graduated from Routt Catholic High School in 1985 and Illinois State University in 1989.
Johnson’s first job out of college was as a bond trader for Edward Jones in St. Louis, which she did for 12 years while simultaneously chasing her passion to be a fitness trainer.
Johnson moved back to the Jacksonville area and returned to the financial services industry where she worked for JP Morgan Chase until 2014, when she joined the Farmers State Bank and Trust Company in Jacksonville. She continues to be a fitness trainer at Fitness World Health Club, and this spring Johnson became Trust Officer for CNB Bank and Trust in Jacksonville. Her role involves overseeing and managing trusts on behalf of clients, ensuring their assets are protected, managed and distributed according to their wishes and legal requirements.
“I’m where I want to be professionally, I can get to know my clients and my co-workers,” Johnson said. “I would like to stay here until retirement.”
Johnson used to be a marathon runner and has competed in three Iron Man distance triathlons, but these days she’s more focused on getting her fitness clients, who range in age from high school to their 70s, to achieve their own personal goals. Johnson is also active in the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, Prairieland United Way and Our Saviour Parish.
Johnson met Dyer at the former Irish Toad pub in downtown Jacksonville shortly after she moved back to the city from St. Louis. They’ve been together since then and will celebrate their tenth anniversary this summer. Their dogs, Yadi and Goldy, are the couple’s “children” and are named after St. Louis Cardinals baseball stars.
Dyer is a Jacksonville native and 1990 Jacksonville High School (JHS) graduate. Following graduation from MacMurray College, he taught history for 11 years at Winchester High School before coming back to JHS six years ago as a history and geography teacher. Dyer is also an assistant football coach at the high school.
Teaching history was Dyer’s initial passion.
“When I was in junior high school one of my good friends, Andy Ezard, his dad Roger was my history teacher, and that’s where the push came for me to teach history,” Dyer said. “Then just last year the ag teacher at JHS left and I was encouraged by another former ag teacher, Kenny Dufelmeier, to try teaching that subject.”
“I love U.S. history and geography, but just being around these FFA kids has shown me a new perspective,” Dyer said. “I learn from them every day.”
Dyer had to get a provisional teaching certification in order to switch from history to agriculture. Fortunately his 25-year side job as the “elder statesman” groundskeeper at The Links Golf Course supplied Dyer with the 2,000 hours of experience necessary for the certification. He now teaches five agriculture classes and serves as the students’ FFA advisor.
When combined with his assistant coaching gig, being the FFA advisor keeps Dyer running.
“It’s weird because I go from coaching at football practices and games with Head Coach Mark Grounds to coaching the ag students during their competitions,” Dyer said. “These Career Development Events through FFA like meat and livestock judging help them to better prepare to for careers in agriculture.”
“I always tell the FFA students, ‘This is your game,’ and when they get it, you see the look on their faces and it’s just like another kid catching a touchdown pass,” Dyer said. “It’s a different type of game but it’s still highly competitive.”
Dyer credits former ag teachers Dufelmeier and Jennifer Waters, who still work at the high school, with being resources he can, and often does, lean on. He can also receive guidance from his wife’s farming family including cousin Lori Jackson, who works for the Illinois Farm Bureau.
“My friends give me good-natured ribbing and say things like, ‘What do you know about farming and stuff?’” Dyer said. “But I tell them I know how to teach, and teaching is all about making relationships with the kids and opening doors for opportunities. That’s what I’m doing here.”
Recently, Dyer helped his FFA students to raise plants in the JHS greenhouse that were sold to help pay for FFA-related activities. His free time is spent primarily on school-related activities, and Dyer is also a member of the local Elks Lodge.
Dyer is happy he made the switch from history to agriculture.
“I won’t go back, this is what I do. This is my last hurrah,” Dyer said. “This city boy has found his calling.”
