Bob Nelson is an experienced agricultural real estate professional with more than four decades of experience working with landowners, farmers, and investors throughout Illinois. His career has been built around a deep understanding of farmland, a commitment to serving landowners’ interests, and a practical knowledge of agriculture, finance, and land management. He joins Field Level Agriculture, Inc. from Agrivest, Inc., Farm Management and Real Estate where he was a founding partner in 1999 and President from 2018 to 2026.
Bob is a DeKalb County native and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Upon completing his undergraduate studies, he served as an intern in Economic Research with the Farm Credit Administration in Washington, D.C., gaining early exposure to agricultural finance, economic analysis, and national agricultural policy.
Following his undergraduate education, Bob pursued graduate studies in Finance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and course work in Accountancy at the University of Illinois Springfield. He also served as a Farm Loan Officer at Gifford State Bank and as Farm Manager with The First National Bank of Springfield, where he further developed his expertise in agricultural property management, farmland transactions, and serving the interests of agricultural landowners.
Bob has earned the Accredited Farm Manager (AFM) designation from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA), a professional designation recognizing expertise in the management of agricultural properties and farm operations.
Over the course of his career, Bob has managed and advised on approximately 15,000 acres of farmland and worked with approximately 50 farm operations. His experience encompasses agricultural real estate sales, farm leasing, land management, tenant selection, agricultural finance, and the evaluation and marketing of farmland for a variety of purposes.
Bob brings a landowner’s perspective to his work. Having a longstanding connection to generational farmland and continuing to be involved in the ownership and management of family agricultural property, he understands that farmland is more than an investment. It represents family history, hard work, stewardship, and often a legacy to be passed to future generations. This perspective has shaped his approach to helping landowners make thoughtful, well-informed decisions about their property.
Education
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
B.S., Ag Economics
Activities & Affiliations
Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers