About Me

Ian Carroll is a junior at Illini West High School and is involved in cross country, FBLA, Student Council, and other activities. Through the CEO Program, Ian is most excited about networking with local businesses and building connections within the community. Outside of school, he enjoys working at his strawberry farm in Carthage, where he manages 6,000 strawberry plants and handles the day-to-day responsibilities of running the business. Ian started the farm himself, purchasing the necessary materials and taking on a $14,000 loan to help establish the operation. During strawberry season, which begins in mid-May, he spends much of his time working at the farm and sells his strawberries through his Facebook page, “Berry Good Berries,” as well as with help from the Carthage and Macomb farmers’ markets. Through his experiences with his business and the CEO Program, Ian hopes to continue developing his entrepreneurial and leadership skills while building connections that will help him in the future.