Live.Work.Grow. Volume 9 Issue 1

WorkLive. . Grow.Volume9Issue1 ATLANTA · CLINTON · FARMER CITY · MASON CITY

1 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com 4 A Note from Michael Schmidt 5 Terry and David Holtz: Like Father, Like Son 11 Thunder Creek: Safe and Efficient 15 Precision Wisdom: How do Precision Planting Solutions Drive Efficiency? 21 Kent and Dana Weatherby: The Family Behind the Farm 26 Introducing the All-New MacDon FD2 FlexDraper 28 Landoll Tilloll 877: Built for Generations 29 Ag in the Classroom with Amy Hyde 33 Geringhoff: Productivity in All Conditions 35 Takeuchi: Siliskie Land Management 37 Central Illinois Local Foods Spotlight: Ropp Jersey Cheese in this issue Volume 9 Issue 1 3729521 Leeper Family Farms harvesting soybeans in Macon County during fall of 2021. On the Cover

Abby Miller, Marketing Director

Happy New Year and welcome to 2022! With another year, brings another Live.Work.Grow. magazine that I am continually grateful to have been able to create for you all! Between meeting the Weatherby family in Williamsville, having a great conversation with father and son Terry and David Holtz in Farmer City, heading to Lincoln to catch up with Amy Hyde who was a mentor to me for many years in 4-H, to meeting with Ken Ropp, a fellow dairy farmer in Bloomington, and more, this magazine has taken me all across central Illinois. I am once again excited to share stories about our loyal customers as well as other influential people within our local agriculture community. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I have enjoyed creating this magazine over the past several months - and keep in mind, I am always open to story suggestions for future articles!

Dawn Irwin, Assistant Marketing Director

Leadership Team: Steve Schmidt - Chief Executive Officer

dirwin@centralilag.com

We really enjoyed hosting an in-person event this year, after some time of having no events due to COVID restrictions.

www.centralilag.com · Volume 9 Issue 1 2

amiller@centralilag.com

Harvest began a little differently for me this year as my son, Aric James, was born on August 11th. At twelve days old, one of the first events he attended was our combine clinic!

Fall 2021 is certainly one to remember!

Michael Schmidt - President Brian Reeser - Vice President Tim Evans - Chief Financial Officer Abby Miller - Marketing Director

As always, being in the field taking photos and capturing fall in Central Illinois is one of my favorite things about harvest. Thank you to everyone who allowed me to visit your fields this year, it is always fun to meet each of you and I look forward to a successful planting season!

3 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com 200AtlantaSharon St. Atlanta, IL 61723 (217) 648-2307 Clinton 1000 State Route 10 E. Clinton, IL 61727 (217) 935-8373 Farmer City 792 U.S. Hwy 150 E. Farmer City, IL 61842 (309) 928-2154 Mason City 130 Tonica St. Mason City, IL 62664 (217) 482-9760 Steve Michael(217)Atlanta,SchmidtIL737-7445SchmidtLincoln,IL(217)737-8669BrianReeserClinton,IL(217)519-4341JohnCoersNewHolland,IL(217)737-5674 Austin Coers New Holland, IL (217) 454-1358 Joe Farmer(217)Petersburg,FisherIL303-1754DougFranzenCity,IL(309)275-8556MichaelWheetHeyworth,IL(309)613-0556TylerWilliamsSanJose,IL(309)620-3665 Adam Phillip(217)(309)McLean,DavisIL261-1351ToddIrwinKenney,IL871-9800BorgmanVillaGrove,IL(217)816-7146JarrettRohlfsEmden,IL(217)737-4244 SalesLocationsTeam

www.centralilag.com · Volume 9 Issue 1 4

What a year! Just when we were ready to put 2020 behind us, 2021 came on and surprised us once again with new obstacles to tackle. It took about a year after COVID-19 hit in March 2020 to see its effects through a major supply shortage from parts to Whileequipment.navigating through this past year, a favorite saying kept coming to mind, “We don’t grow when things are easy, we grow when we face challenges.”

Even though we did have nationwide dealership challenges such as steel and rubber shortages that led to unfortunate surcharges, our parts team has done the best they can searching for and getting parts on hand as fast as possible to ensure you could stay in the field.

The low production rate due to supply issues, and high level of demand for equipment leaves the dealership in a tough spot. We are told how many months (sometimes a year) out we are on products, but we continue to order and sell what we can daily. At the end of the day, what matters most, is that we are here for our customers…you are the Central Illinois Ag family.

President, Central Illinois Ag

And boy, have we faced challenges and continue to do so. But in the same sense we are continuing to learn, grow, and thrive from these challenges. It takes a team to provide for and support a successful harvest. Our parts team, along with the entire crew, has done a phenomenal job ordering and keeping inventory stocked to have on hand for those spur of the moment breakdowns.

As always, we wish you a sucessful spring, and we are here to help you one way or another.@MPSchmidtAg

A Note from michael Schmidt

Michael President,mschmidt@centralilag.comSchmidtCentralIllinoisAg

As a kid, David loved to be on the farm where they used to raise cattle along with corn and soybeans. “Growing up on a farm, you can learn so much just from watching and helping dad,” says David, which is exactly how his passion for farming began. He spent countless days right beside Terry, riding along in the field, handing him tools, or anything he could do to be included. By the age of eight, he was mowing pastures, and a few years later, he was running the field cultivator in the spring.

5 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

Like Father, Like Son

“There was never a doubt in my mind that I wanted to farm, and thankfully, I was allowed the opportunity,” says David. “It was in my blood and once I got a taste of it, I knew I wanted to run equipment and take care of the land.”

In 1965, Terry began farming on his own with some ground he rented in Clinton, Illinois. By 1968, he had made the move to Farmer City where he had some more permanent farming opportunities. He has now been in the same area for 53 years and has been able to bring his son into the operation and turn his first-generation farm into what it is today.

In 1989, David’s wishes came true as he officially joined his dad on the farm. To make the operation work for the both of them, he always had a second job as well. His hard work over the years has proved his determination to keep the farm and help Terry adapt to the many technological advancements along the way.

Terry and David Holtz are a successful father-son duo who farm around Farmer City, Illinois. They are a prime example of a family who has been able to work together to gradually improve their operation, one step at a time.

“The family farm means everything to me since I started it all,” says Terry Holtz. “Now I just take it one day at a time and try to keep it in the family.”

Terry and David Holtz

Terry and David believe that having reliable equipment paired with a dealership that they can trust day in and day out, is one of the most important aspects of having a successful farming operation today.

David’s 13-year-old son Tyler in the auger cart this fall.

“The advancements in technology have been unbelievable, and you have to stay up on it all the time,” says David. “Every year it continues to change, and it has not stopped and who knows where it will stop.”

Terry describes how far production agriculture has come since he started farming back in the 60s with one simple statement: unbelievable. During his first couple of years, he had a Farmall 560, a Farmall M, and rented an International 715 combine without a cab. He will never forget being in that combine during harvest of 1967, when he finished harvesting in the snow on December 24th. Needless to say, he is more than grateful for how far machinery has come throughout the years.

“We hope to see a third generation come on to continue what dad started and give them the same opportunity,” says David. “Because you don’t want to see family farms go away.”

“Someone asked me what I thought of our 6130 combine and I told them I wish I had that cab 50 years ago,” says DavidTerry.agrees and recognizes that running newer equipment and incorporating current technology has become more of a necessity in modern farming and has certainly been a goal of theirs over the years.

He says that having autosteer in the planting tractor and running

Along with that, of course, comes family. They are proud to have been able to work together through the years and are excited to incorporate the next generation into the farm, David’s daughters Grace and Shelby and son Tyler, who started running the auger cart this past harvest. They hope for Tyler to one day follow in their footsteps, but for now, are excited to share their passion for farming with him. “It is all I have ever done, and I can only hope to be as successful as my dad has been,” says David. He takes pride in every aspect of the farm from how the crops look and perform, to doing what is best for his landlords. However, his biggest responsibility in his eyes is taking care of the land as a means to preserve the farm for years to come.

a draper head alone have made all the difference in efficiency and productivity in a day’s time. They can get more done in a shorter amount of time without compromising the quality of their crops, and can always rely on Central Illinois Ag’s service and Case IH equipment to help. “Dan Warren and his crew at CIA go above and beyond what it takes to get us up and going as fast as time allows,” says David. “I have never had an issue with red equipment, but it is because of CIA’s service that we have stayed customers for so long.”

MANAGE YOUR TEAM IN ANY FIELD. a demonstration today!

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7 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com All rights reserved. Case IH is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. www.caseih.com

Magnum™

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freedom to farm your way. MANAGE YOUR TEAM IN ANY FIELD. See your Case IH dealer for a demonstration today! registered in the United States and many other countries, N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. www.caseih.com

Magnum™ puts productivity at fingertips. The all-new cab is designed to provide an operator experience like no other. Pro 1200 display and AFS Vision Pro operating system to give a fully connected experience no matter if you’re on local dealer to see how the AFS Connect Magnum gives you the freedom to farm way.

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Plus, it

The AFS Connect™ puts productivity at fingertips. The all-new cab is designed to provide an operator experience like no other. features the AFS Pro 1200 display and AFS Vision Pro operating system to give a fully connected experience no matter if on off AFS Connect Magnum gives the

www.centralilag.com · Volume 9 Issue 1 THEUNLEASHBULLS

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9 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com TRUE. BLUE. Advantage. EXPERIENCE TRUE SIMPLICITY AT YOUR LOCAL KINZE DEALER Kinze.com©2021 by Kinze Manufacturing, Inc. All rights reserved. Blue Vantage Display | Blue Drive Electric Drive The innovative, clean, and streamlined Blue Vantage display provides simple, accurate, and intuitive planter control for high productivity planting. Factory presets remove the labor and guesswork from setup, while a dedicated planting screen provides all critical information at one glance during planting. Built-in diagnostics keep troubleshooting easy and efficient. Add up to four cameras for rear and other views Available on 4905, 4705, 3665, & 3505 planters Shared field coverage data with other planters Dealership Name Street Address City, State 55555 (555) 555-5555 www.dealershipwebsite.com The designed-by-Kinze and built-for-Kinze Blue Vantage display is the industry’s easiest to use, dedicated planter display. The innovative, clean, and streamlined display provides simple, accurate, and intuitive planter control for high productivity planting. Factory presets remove the labor and guesswork from setup, while a dedicated planting screen provides all critical information at one glance during planting. Built-in diagnostics keep troubleshooting easy and efficient. TRUE. BLUE. Advantage. VISIT YOUR LOCAL KINZE DEALER TO EXPERIENCE TRUE SIMPLICITY Field coverage data can be shared by two or more planters equipped with Blue Vantage in the same field Available on the 4905 & 4705 front fold, and 3665 & 3505 pivot fold planters Active weight transfer control if equipped with hydraulic weight transfer and bulk fill scales See behind plantertransportingwhenandviewfunctionswith up to four planter-cameras Kinze.com©2021 by Kinze Manufacturing, Inc. All rights reserved. Planting Screen Dealership Name Street Address City, State 55555 (555) 555-5555 www.dealershipwebsite.com 200 Sharon St. Atlanta, IL 61723 (217) centralilag.com648-2307 Central Illinois Ag

EXPERIENCE

(217) centralilag.com648-2307 Central Illinois Ag

Dealership Name Street Address City, State 55555 555-5555

meterdriveelectricSpeedTrue Name Street Address City, State 55555 (555) 555-5555 200 St. Atlanta, IL 61723

(555)

www.dealershipwebsite.com

Accurately plant at speeds from 3–12 mph and plant up to twice the number of acres in a day versus a conventional meter. By controlling the seed from the seed disc to placement in the seed trench, precise singulation and seed spacing are achieved regardless of seed size, shape, or coating. Single singulator for corn and other crops Available on 4905, 4705, and 3665 planters Easily replaced long life wear components

True Speed High Speed Meters

meterdriveelectricSpeedTrue

Dealership Name Street Address City, State 55555 (555) 555-5555

www.centralilag.com

Accurately plant at speeds from 3–12 mph and plant up to twice the number of acres in a day versus a conventional meter. By controlling the seed from the seed disc to placement in the seed trench, precise singulation and seed spacing are achieved regardless of seed size, shape, or coating. Single singulator for corn and other crops Available on 4905, 4705, and 3665 planters Easily replaced long life wear components

www.dealershipwebsite.com

Accurately plant at speeds from 3–12 mph and plant up to twice the number of acres in a day versus a conventional meter. By controlling the seed from the seed disc to placement in the seed trench, precise singulation and seed spacing are achieved regardless of seed size, shape, or coating. Single singulator for corn and other crops Available on 4905, 4705, and 3665 planters Easily replaced long life wear components

True Speed High Speed Meters

Dealership

Sharon

· Volume 9 Issue 1 10

TRUE. BLUE. Advantage.

www.dealershipwebsite.com

Doug and Derek saw an opportunity to improve the safety and efficiency of harvest, and found it to be a necessary change. In the past, they had been hauling fuel to and from the field on a homemade trailer as a convenient way to get by throughout the season. After harvest, they realized their need to upgrade and invest in a reliable fuel trailer, and reached out to Michael Schmidt at Central Illinois Ag about a Thunder Creek. That next morning, Michael had a Thunder Creek FST990 fuel trailer available, so the Martins decided to make it theirs and have not regretted it since. This harvest was their first season with the Thunder Creek, and they have been impressed with how it has impacted their productivity in the field. Their crew have all enjoyed using the trailer and love how it minimizes down time by only taking five minutes to fill up the combine before getting right back to work. They can also go a few days before refueling the Thunder Creek, unlike their old trailer which needed refueled every night.

11 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

Inpractices.2020,

Doug and Derek also agree that safety is one of the key features of the Thunder Creek that makes for an easier harvest. During the later weeks of harvest when they are working in the dark more often, the LED lights are a great addition. Additionally, the enclosure of the trailer front to back keeps supplies clean and makes transportation safer all around. “As much as we travel, haul fuel, and have to fill up in the dark, the FST990 has really paid off to have,” says Doug. They also note how useful it is to have the DEF system, air compressor, welder, and generator available at all times and have gotten a lot of use out of this harvest season. “We use every aspect of this trailer,” says Derek.

“Time is a huge deal when farming and it definitely saves us time each Theday.”Martins are proud Thunder Creek customers and have continued to recommend the trailer to neighbors and friends who have asked about theirs, noting that the value is worth it. “Farmers typically make big purchases and don’t like to spend on smaller tools,” says Doug. “But after having the Thunder Creek, we have realized that it makes a difference to spend on the little things.”

Martin Family Farms of Mt. Pulaski, IL is owned and operated by Jeff and Jean Martin, Doug and Erin Martin, & Derek and Renee Martin. Their roots in agriculture go back to 1826, when their family began raising corn and soybeans around central Illinois. Doug and Derek were raised on the farm, always working with their parents and grandparents. After college, they both returned to the farm to live out their passion for agriculture and keep the family farm growing.

As the 7th generation of Martin Family Farms, Doug and Derek take pride in improving their operation by staying on top of cutting-edge technology and modern, innovative farming

Safe and Efficient Thunder Creek

Thunder Creek trailers save you time and money when it matters most. As a Premier Thunder Creek Dealer, Central Illinois Ag is ready with inventory in stock to help you cut downtime during planting and harvest. Join the Thunder Creek Family Call 217.648.2307 for more information about units in stock today.

Most planting seasons have weather challenges that make it difficult to plant all your fields in ideal conditions. SpeedTube is a seed delivery system that allows you to double your planting speed without sacrificing performance. You’ll have a sense of accomplishment when the rain comes and your planter is already back in the shed.

It’s stressful to be sitting in the shop and hear the rain on the roof and know that you still have acres to plant. Worse yet, you know that the next time you get a chance to plant might be in poor conditions because the calendar says you are behind. That will cost you yield. You need a planter that lets you plant the acres each day that you want to, not that your planter limits you to.

Most planting seasons have weather challenges that make it difficult to plant all your fields in ideal conditions. SpeedTube is a seed delivery system that allows you to double your planting speed without sacrificing performance. You’ll have a sense of accomplishment when the rain comes and your planter is already back in the shed.

It’s stressful to be sitting in the shop and hear the rain on the roof and know that you still have acres to plant. Worse yet, you know that the next time you get a chance to plant might be in poor conditions because the calendar says you are behind. That will cost you yield. You need a planter that lets you plant the acres each day that you want to, not that your planter limits you to.

Finish BeforePlantingItRains

Accuracy At Any Speed SpeedTube is the key to allowing your planter to plant more acres per day, accurately. SpeedTube ensures that seed spacing is maintained, regardless of how fast you plant. Want to double your current planter speed? Go ahead, SpeedTube will ensure that your seeds are planted just as accurately as they would have been at half the speed. SpeedTube pairs with other Precision Planting products to create a high speed planter that gives you a great stand regardless of speed. Remove the speed limit from your planter by adding speedtube. precisionplanting.com/speedtube

Finish BeforePlantingItRains

Accuracy At Any Speed SpeedTube is the key to allowing your planter to plant more acres per day, accurately. SpeedTube ensures that seed spacing is maintained, regardless of how fast you plant. Want to double your current planter speed? Go ahead, SpeedTube will ensure that your seeds are planted just as accurately as they would have been at half the speed. SpeedTube pairs with other Precision Planting products to create a high speed planter that gives you a great stand regardless of speed. Remove the speed limit from your planter by adding speedtube. precisionplanting.com/speedtube

www.centralilag.com · Volume 9 Issue 1 14 APPAREL MERCHANDISEAND www.bushhog.com OURSAYSTAGLINEITALL

Plus, vDrive allows the seed and insecticide meter to turn off at a boundary or where you have already planted to minimize overlaps. Second, vDrive can help you achieve the correct seed population around curves.

Q: First, what should producers know about adding Precision Planting solutions to their planters?

When you plant around a curve with a typical drive system, the population on each row varies because the inside row units of the planter are traveling slower than the outside row units, resulting in a large variation in population. With vDrive on your planter, each meter automatically adjusts to match the speed of that row unit. This means that yield loss from wide population variances is no longer an issue.

Q: Planting windows can be tight. How do Precision Planting solutions help growers work and plant more efficiently?

C.E.: As precision technologies are becoming more advanced, they deliver simple ways to help you plant more precisely. Not only do these solutions — such as the Precision Planting vDrive system — reduce consumption and waste but they can also reduce your inputs and increase yield to help you be more profitable.

How Do Precision Planting Solutions Drive Efficiency?

15 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

C.E.: Precision Planting solutions — such as vDrive®, DeltaForce® and SpeedTube® — are great ways to customize and upgrade the planter you already own, no matter the color. If you’re looking to improve your planter’s performance next year, your local Case IH Premier Certified Dealer is an ideal one-stop shop to find the best solution to increase your yield potential.

Plus, as growers try to fit more acres into each planting window, Precision Planting solutions can help reduce operator fatigue and increase productivity in the field.

Precision Wisdom:

C.E.: vDrive from Precision Planting is a simple way to control the meter system for your planter and ensure even, consistent plant emergence. Although mechanical drive systems often require costly and time-consuming maintenance, vDrive offers a maintenance-free solution to breeze through planting and save seed. vDrive helps growers drive efficiency and save on input costs in a few other ways. First, the vDrive system controls each row of your planter individually to precisely execute variable rate prescriptions. With this solution, each row of the planter can change population independently, rather than all rows planting the same population.

You don’t have to be a precision philosopher to up your efficiency game next spring. To break down how Precision Planting® products can make the most of your time in the field, Case IH caught up with expert Chris Ehman, marketing manager for Precision Solutions & Telematics at Case IH Aftermarket Solutions.

It’s also important to remember that precision technology isn’t one-size-fits-all. Working with your local Premier Certified Dealer is the key to determining the best customizable, scalable solutions for your planter and farm.

Q: Earlier you mentioned the vDrive system from Precision Planting. Tell us about this solution and how it can reduce inputs while driving yield.

C.E.: I believe precision will be an essential part of every operation in the future. With a shrinking workforce and increasing yield demands, planting windows aren’t getting any longer — so operations are starting to require smart and effective solutions to up productivity. That’s also why data will play an increasingly important role in decision-making and ensuring operations remain profitable.

Q: Talk about the Precision Planting SpeedTube solution and how it works.

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C.E.: SpeedTube helps ensure accuracy at higher speeds because the seeds are controlled all the way from the vSet® meter to the ground. If there is row unit bounce, it doesn’t affect seed spacing because the seeds are contained within a flighted belt, keeping them in place. When seeds are under control, speed can be increased to 10 mph without sacrificing performance.

Q: Especially in tight planting windows, growers increasingly need reliable ways to ensure even, consistent crop emergence. How can precision solutions help achieve that?

Q: Most planting seasons have weather challenges that make it difficult to plant in ideal conditions. How can investing in precision solutions help growers tackle tight planting windows?

Variability in fields exists, whether it’s different soil types, moisture or compaction. That’s why when setting your downforce airbag or spring, one single setting is not going to match conditions across the entire field. The reality is that too little downforce can result in lateemerging plants, and too much downforce can cause compaction and yield loss. That’s where a precision downforce solution, such as DeltaForce, comes in. It precisely and automatically adjusts downforce across the changing conditions of your fields.

It’s important to note that SpeedTube is one component of a high-speed planting system. Combined with additional precision solutions including DeltaForce® down force control and vSet seed metering, you can ensure that as speed increases, accuracy remains the same.

Q: How does DeltaForce work, and how can it simplify planting?

C.E.: There are tons of options out there for planter upgrades — but one of the best investments that’s going to yield the best ROI is precision. If you’re interested in upgrading your planter, I always recommend contacting your local Case IH Premier Certified Dealer. They’re specifically trained to understand and support Precision Planting products to help you find the best solution for your operation and budget, no matter what color planter you run. Precision Planting solutions give you the ability to retrofit an older planter to improve performance and maintain accuracy for the seasons ahead. Plus, there’s nothing more valuable than the peace of mind that precision solutions can bring during planting season. The Precision Planting DeltaForce® system is one example of a surefire, yet simple, solution that can help ensure all seeds are planted at the correct depth in any conditions for even, consistent emergence and higher yields.

Q: Looking into your crystal ball, how do you envision precision and technology impacting productivity on operations in the future?

C.E.: DeltaForce is an automated row-by-row control system that measures and adjusts downforce every time there is variability in your field. It processes weight data from every row 200 times per second so it can respond to changing soil conditions in a fraction of a second. DeltaForce replaces the springs or airbags on your current planter with hydraulic cylinders and load cells to measure how much weight is being carried. The operator sets the desired weight for the gauge wheels, and DeltaForce does the rest to maintain consistent

The precision experts at your local Premier Certified Dealer can help you determine the best upgrades for your planter and plant confidently next spring.

downforce — even across the variation of a field.

Q: When it comes to upgrading a planter, ROI is top of mind. How can producers maximize planter investments?

C.E.: Growers know well that no 2 inches of their fields are the same — especially in less-than-ideal conditions.

C.E.: We know that seed singulation and spacing are key drivers for yield, particularly in corn. Planting too fast can cause row units to bounce, seeds to bounce in the seed tube, inconsistent seed spacing — resulting in a poor stand. Case IH Premier Certified Dealers offer solutions such as SpeedTube to help cover more acres accurately. Upgrading your current planter with precision solutions is a smart choice to hit your ideal planting window and maximize ROI.

17 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com PRO-TILL HIGH PERFORMANCE TILLAGE This is Pro-Till by Degelman. The fastest and most versatile piece of tillage equipment you will ever own, Pro-Till shreds heavy fall residue, opens up spring fields, levels ruts, destroys clods and produces an absolutely perfect seed bed. The Pro-Till shreds residue at speeds over 10 mph, up to three times the speed of traditional cultivators, while ensuring uniform distribution of residue to eliminate problems such as uneven and delayed emergence, hair pinning, erosion and seeder/planter plugging. Pro-Till is High Speed, High Performance Tillage. www.degelman.com ENGINEERED TOUGH WET OR DRY. SPRING OR FALL. WORK IN THE MOST CHALLENGING CONDITIONS.

www.centralilag.com · Volume 9 Issue 1 18 Ease of Use for Operator Eliminates Twisting & Turning The biggest benefit of a right-side auger is that it makes unloading easier and more comfortable. Tractors are designed with controls and monitors on the right side of the cab. Compared to a traditional left-side auger grain cart, putting the auger on the right side makes it much easier to watch the grain cart unload, use the tractor controls and track monitors at the same time. This reduces the risk for mistakes especially during stressful moments and greatly diminishes the amount of twisting and turning while operating the grain cart. Ultimate Visibility Superior Forward Reach Provides Clearer View of Unload Auger J&M’s X-Tended Reach augers provide the best combination of upward, outward and forward reach. Combine that with the added convenience of an auger on the right side, and the result is a grain cart that is easier to unload than any in the history of farming. Tractor Seat Swivel Tractors Seats Swivel More to the Right Tractor seats swivel more to the right than the left. Some tractors swivel up to 32° more to the right making it easier to turn your seat instead of your body to see the auger. THE RIGHT VIEW Single Auger 1012 • 1112 • 1312 • 1412 Double Auger 1432 J&M Manufacturing Co, Inc • 284 Railroad Street • Fort Recovery, Ohio 45846 • (419) 375-2376 • www.jm-inc.com • sales@jm-inc.com 11-19-2021 FarmerClintonAtlanta City Mason City Mike Hoerbert

19 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com For a complete product line, visit www.rhinoag.com

To Kent and Dana Weatherby, the farm family lifestyle is all they have ever known. From being raised on multi-generation farms to building their own together, they cannot imagine any other way of life.

Growing up, Dana was always eager to chip in wherever she was needed, between driving a Farmall M tractor spraying corn, running the combine, and helping build their new machine shed. She also spent countless summers walking beans with her sisters while their father jokingly sang old songs to keep them entertained. Seeing her mother be so active on the farm gave her the desire to pursue a career in agriculture and farm alongside her own family one day.

Dana grew up near Spaulding, IL helping out around their corn and soybean farm with her two younger sisters and her parents, Fred and Judy Kramer. Dana grew up watching the successful partnership between her parents as they farmed with one another throughout their lives.

“My family was very hands-on and always did it ourselves no matter what the job was,” says Dana. “It was always instilled in us as kids to work together until the job was done and we didn’t question it.”

Kent and Dana Weatherby

The Family behind the Farm

www.centralilag.com · Volume 9 Issue 1 22

Dana is grateful to have had her family as a great example while she and Kent have worked to build their operation.

Kenneth and Luke Luke and Kent

Another tradition that has been shared from generation to generation, is their love for red equipment. Kent grew up with International Harvester equipment along with some Oliver tractors. He remembers the first red combine on the farm was a 1440 when he was a kid.

Dana’s family has always had red equipment, so together she and Kent continue to be loyal to Case IH today with the help of Central Illinois Ag. “We are familiar with Case IH and the combine has always been known for being efficient,” says Dana. “I can’t imagine we would ever switch.”

Close to where he and Dana live today, Kent also grew up on his family’s farm in Fancy Prairie, IL with his younger sisters and parents, Kenneth and Erna Weatherby. Kent was destined to be a farmer ever since his father had him riding along in their open, 2 row combine when Kent was just a baby. As he grew up, he became more involved baling hay, doing mechanical work on equipment, and helping raise their cattle and hogs. He and his sisters also raised show calves as their 4-H projects each summer.

During finals week, just before graduation in 1988, Kent and Dana rented their first farm together in Cantrall.

Similar to Dana, Kent always knew he wanted to farm for a living, so when they got married during their last year at the University of Illinois, they began to build the life they had envisioned for themselves together.

In the years following, they farmed with Kent’s father and gradually added their own ground. Today they raise corn and soybeans in parts of Sangamon, Menard, and Logan County and still continue to farm that first field in Cantrall which started it all.

“I have seen over the years the commitment my parents and grandparents have shown to the farm, and somehow always made it work,” says Dana. “It shows us that with the ups and downs of farming, you are always in it for the long haul”. Her parents farmed together until they were 80 years old and decided to retire. Around the same time, Luke Weatherby, Kent and Dana’s son began to farm with them full time. Their other sons, Adam, Cole, and Jacob are also heavily involved and always have been throughout their childhood.

Kent and Dana Weatherby Jacob, Luke, Kent, Kenneth, Erna, Judy, Fred, Dana, and Cole

Kent and Dana have seen first-hand the improvements in Case IH equipment and technology that have come about since they were kids. The increased efficiency, productivity, and communication alone has made a huge difference, and they are hopeful to gradually keep improving their operation for generations to come.

“Central Illinois Ag has put such huge efforts into customer service,” Kent adds. “Our salesman Austin Coers and the mechanics have been so attentive, and we have to give them credit for helping us as much as they have, it is worth a lot.”

“Our ancestors have worked tirelessly for generations to build up their farms, keep them together, and pass on to the next generation,” says Dana. “We are not doing this just to earn a living, but to pass it down and build upon what previous generations have given us as a foundation.”

EVERY FIELD IS YOUR FIELD. The new AFS Connect™ Steiger® puts power and productivity at your fingertips. The all-new cab is designed to provide for maximized comfort and connectivity. And with the all new AFS Pro 1200 display and AFS Vision Pro operating system, you get the full AFS Connect experience no matter if you’re on or off the farm. Visit your local dealer to see how the AFS Connect Steiger gives you the freedom to farm your way.

The FD2’s all-new frame features an ultra-deep deck with 50 inch deep drapers and is now available in 30 to 50 foot configurations. The FD2 delivers up to 20%* more capacity of smooth heads-first feeding in the tallest bushiest crops it can get its reel fingers on. No matter what type of combine you mount it to, the FeedMaxTM Crop Feeding System optimizes performance. Along with active crop flow, patented reel movement, and new ShatterGuard reel positioning, the FD2 is ready for action.

GET ready for MORE!

High Volume Heads-First Feeding.

www.centralilag.com · Volume 9 Issue 1 26

Cut Cleaner. Cut Faster. Cut More. MacDon’s ClearCutTM High-Speed Cutting System delivers just that; clean cutting at up to 30% faster speeds*. Helping you get there is MacDon’s improved knife drive with more power and new knife section geometry with 25% more cutting surface. A smooth close shave comes from two unique ClearCut Knife Guards; choose between Pointed Knife Guards or PlugFree™ Knife Guards that resist plugging even in the nastiest conditions.

The FD2 FlexDraper® is the evolution of the ground following innovation MacDon first brought to market almost 20 years ago. Like we did then, we listen to and work with you, the farmer, in the most challenging real-world conditions. What does that mean for you? More. More sizes, more durability, more harvesting innovations. So, in case you’re not convinced yet, here are a few more reasons why the FD2 is the right investment for your operation!

*Compared to previous model.

70%flexieR!30%fastER!20%BIGGER!MOREcapacityMOREspeedMOREFLEX***GetMorewiththeMacDon FD2 FlexDraper® FD2.MacDon.com

A Ground Following Dream. MacDon’s legendary ground-following ability continues with the FD2. MacDon’s Active Float System gets coupled with up to 70%* more flex for a harvesting experience like no other. Flex-Float Technology® gets turned up with MacDon’s optional ContourMaxTM Contour Wheels. These wheels allow the header to follow the field’s contours, leaving a consistent stubble height while cutting from 1 to 18 inches off the ground.

27 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.comLandoll Company, LLC • Marysville, Kansas 66508 • 785-738-6613 www.landoll.com AG PRODUCTS From The COMPANY Who Knows You BEST! ® 7500 Series VT Plus 7800 Series HSL 875/877 Series Tilloll Brillion Till ‘N Seed® Landoll Company, LLC • Marysville, Kansas 66508 • 785-738-6613 7500 Series VT Plus 7800 Series HSL 875/877Brillion

“The updates make it much easier to run,” says Casey. “It just takes a couple cranks, check your depth, and go.”

Sharon began faming with her parents and grandparents in 1987 and is the fourth generation in the family to carry it on. After they were married, Casey worked at a feed mill for 27 years, before having the opportunity to join the farm with Sharon about nine years ago. Today, they farm with Vernon and their daughter, Rachael Welker, who recently joined them full time. In the spring you can find Vernon planting, Rachael working ground, Casey spraying, and Sharon running chemicals and seed to the field.

“This farm has been a great opportunity for us,” says Sharon. “We can say this is what our grandparents did, this is what we get to do, and our kids can now be a part of it too.” 877: Built for Generations

785-738-6613 875/877 Series Tilloll Brillion Till ‘N Seed®

Husband and wife, Casey and Sharon Jones of Lincoln, Illinois are no strangers to working as a family when it comes to farming. Casey grew up on a dairy farm in Chestnut, Illinois working with his parents, Bill and Carol Jones. He fed calves, milked cows, and always had an interest in the agriculture industry. Similarly, Sharon grew up on her family’s grain farm raising pigs for 4-H projects, building fence, and tagging along with her parents, Vernon and Janet Klockenga, in the field. She had a passion for childcare, but eventually decided she wanted to be outside and farm with her family for a of life is so nice, being able to work with family and work outside,” says Sharon. “The best feeling is when you can look right behind you in the tractor and see all you have accomplished in a day.”

Casey and Sharon Jones

“Thisliving.way

“The 877 made it nicer for Rachael to make her own adjustments in the field.” Now, Rachael is able to raise and lower the 877 with ease when moving between different fields, which has impacted time management and increased efficiency. They have also been more than happy with the support they have received from Landoll Territory Manager, Jake Ralph, who was in the field helping them get going last spring. “Having Jake out made all the difference in the world with how it ran,” says Casey.

“When someone is willing to come out to the farm and help get us going, that is worth gold.” They agree that how the machine performs is most important, but having a rep who is hands-on, knows the tool inside and out, and knows what your operation needs, adds so much value to the product and reflects on the company as a whole. They have recommended the 877 to many farmers in the area and are excited to keep it on the farm for many years, as they hope to continue passing the farm down for generations to come.

tilloll

The Landoll Tilloll has been their goto for spring tillage for several years now, and the Joneses have continued to rely on Central Illinois Ag to fulfill their tillage needs. Since they work all of their ground, Casey says that with other tools, they would have to work ground two, sometimes three times before planting but with the Landoll, it is one and done. With Rachael working ground the past few years, however, they noticed some challenges with getting their Landoll adjusted to field conditions. Casey would have to stop what he was doing to meet her in the field she was in and set it for her which was not convenient and slowed them down in the spring. They also had issues with bearings and spacers, seeing the need to upgrade to the Landoll 877.

“It is very user-friendly,” Sharon agrees.

www.centralilag.com · Volume 9 Issue 1 28

Since upgrading in 2020, they have been impressed with all the improvements made to the tool. The main benefits are the heavier built frame on the 877 and the finer adjustments that can be made.

Amy Hyde is the current 4-H Youth and Development Program Coordinator and the County Ag Literacy Coordinator with Ag in the Classroom, but her roots in agriculture go back for generations.

“The introduction to agriculture is very important,” says Amy. “We take for granted how much we learn growing up on a farm, because so many kids have never been exposed to ag, which is unfortunate to see.”

She grew up on a family farm in Macon County with her parents and two older sisters. She always enjoyed helping around the farm, took many trips to the implement store with her dad, and often walked beans with her sisters when they were not in school. Her dad’s family farm was started back in 1867, and her mom’s in 1851, which they still have in the family today and Amy hopes her grandchildren will want to continue. Growing up, Amy was always involved in 4-H, which she believes to have had an influence on where she is today. After high school, she went to work at the Clinton Power Station for 17 years before hearing about a Logan County Extension job. Amy had always loved working with children and had a desire to teach one day, so when a colleague reached out to her about a 4-H Community Worker position, she could not wait to get started.

Here in the heart of Illinois, we are surrounded by agriculture. With the various crops and livestock we see all around us, it would be easy to assume that Logan County youth would be familiar with the industry. However, for most elementary-aged children, agriculture education has not been a part of their curriculum in the classroom, that is until Amy Hyde stepped into the picture.

In that position, she saw a need for agriculture education in the community, so one of her goals became to begin an Ag in the Classroom program. The USDA established Ag in the Classroom back in 1981 to implement agriculture education to schools’ existing curriculum to enhance ag literacy. Today, it has become a national program with representation in each state throughout K-12 classrooms.

29 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

Women In Ag Ag in the Classroom

With Amy Hyde

Amy Hyde

Students making pumpkin catapults

Today, Amy visits 10 elementary schools in Logan county each month throughout the school year where she teaches about 1,000 students from kindergarten to sixth grade. She chooses a new ag topic each month to build her lesson plans around that range from crops and livestock to wool and cotton. Her students also love the seasonal topics such as Christmas trees, pumpkins, or animals at the fair.

“These students love science, and agriculture is a perfect example of how science can create advances in crop production and more effective farm practices to help produce more Overfood.”the past several years, Amy has added Teen Teachers to her Ag in the Classroom program to expand her reach in the community even more. This allows for high school age 4-H members create their own lesson plans and teach a few of her classes throughout the year. Not only does it build upon the 4-H members’ community service and communication skills, but also gives the children more people in agriculture to look up to and learn from.

Teen Teachers milk a cow activity

When Amy talks about her career within ag education, her passion for what she does is evident, and to see the children’s excitement on their faces when she walks into their classroom is priceless. It is the students that keep her going each day and wanting to continue enhancing the program for years to come. “Seeing these children excited to learn about ag and seeing that I am having an impact on them is the most rewarding part,” says Amy. She recognizes the need for more educators in ag, and to those interested, offers one piece of advice: “Go for it; there are so many career opportunities in agriculture, and we need the next generation to get involved and make a difference.”

www.centralilag.com · Volume 9 Issue 1 30

After 19 years of teaching through this program, Amy is still shocked at what little knowledge today’s youth have about basic agricultural concepts.

“I believe our whole community needs more ag education for different reasons,” says Amy. “When I go into schools, I notice students have very limited exposure to where their food comes from or about the corn and soybean fields surrounding Lincoln.” Although it is disappointing to see, this only ignites her passion even more to reach as many children as she can to connect them to agriculture and build upon her lessons, so that they get the most out of her time in the Overclassroom.theyears, she has noticed that the best way to engage her students is through fun, hands-on STEM activities as simple as watching seeds grow or with a fun twist such as making pumpkin catapults. No matter the topic, they are able to have fun while learning and building other skills, which is what truly matters to Amy. “I love to see their enthusiasm,” she says. “Through AITC, kids love the hands-on learning experiences and are proud of what they can teach others, which builds leadership Inskills.”addition, Amy hopes that her lessons help the students to connect agriculture to the real world and to see what vast opportunities are out there for them within the industry.

Eventually in 2013, her hard work of advocating for ag education paid off and the Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Extension came together to implement the Ag in the Classroom program in Logan County.

A lot of thought goes into a seed bag. But at Case IH, we put a lot of thought into your seedbed. We use Agronomic Design™ principles to develop a system of soil management tools that help optimize everything from nutrient access to water infiltration. These higher-quality seedbeds, when paired with Case IH planting solutions, will give your plants a better start. Which is more than can be said for a paper bag. to know why your seedbed drives productivity at caseih.com/soilmanagement

SEE US TODAY! Dealer Name 1 Dealer Name 2 Dealer Address 1 Dealer Address 2

. SEE US TODAY! Dealer Name 1 Dealer Name 2 Dealer Address 1 Dealer Address 2

SEE US TODAY! Dealer Name 1 Dealer Name 2

A lot of thought goes into a seed bag. But at Case IH, we put a lot of thought into your seedbed. We use Agronomic Design™ principles to develop a system of soil management tools that help optimize everything from nutrient access to water infiltration. These higher-quality seedbeds, when paired with Case IH planting solutions, will give your plants a better start. Which is more than can be said for a paper bag.

A lot of thought goes into a seed bag. But at Case IH, we put a lot of thought into your seedbed. We use Agronomic Design™ principles to develop a system of soil management tools that help optimize everything from nutrient access to water infiltration. These higher-quality seedbeds, when paired with Case IH planting solutions, will give your plants a better start. Which is more than can be said for a paper bag. to know why your seedbed drives productivity at caseih.com/soilmanagement

31 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com All rights reserved. Case IH is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. www.caseih.com

Get

Nobody delivers equipment financing like AgDirect ®. When you’re looking for simple applications, fast response and flexible financing, ask for AgDirect ® AgDirect financing is built for agriculture, featuring competitive rates and ag-friendly terms. You’ll like our responsive service, too. See for yourself. Next time you buy equipment, ask for AgDirect. Call 888-525-9805 or visit agdirect.com today.

When you’re looking for simple applications, fast response and flexible financing, ask for AgDirect ®

Simple. Fast. Flexible financing.

AgDirect is an equipment financing program offered by Farm Credit Services of America and other participating Farm Credit System Institutions with lease financing provided by Farm Credit Leasing Services Corporation.

AgDirect financing is built for agriculture, featuring competitive rates and ag-friendly terms. You’ll like our responsive service, too.

®

www.centralilag.com · Volume 9 Issue 1

oi AgDirect is an equipment financing program offered by Farm Credit Services of America and other participating Farm Credit System Institutions with lease financing provided by Farm Credit Leasing Services Corporation.

illin

When you’re looking for simple applications, fast response and flexible financing, ask for AgDirect AgDirect financing is built for agriculture, featuring competitive rates and ag-friendly terms. You’ll like our responsive service, too. See for yourself. Next time you buy equipment, ask for AgDirect. Call 888-525-9805 or visit agdirect.com today.

Simple. Fast. Flexible financing.

AgDirect is an equipment financing program offered by Farm Credit Services of America and other participating Farm Credit System Institutions with lease financing provided by Farm Credit Leasing Services Corporation.

Nobody delivers equipment financing like AgDirect ®. When you’re looking for simple applications, fast response and flexible financing, ask for AgDirect ® AgDirect financing is built for agriculture, featuring competitive rates and ag-friendly terms. You’ll like our responsive service, too. See for yourself. Next time you buy equipment, ask for AgDirect. Call 888-525-9805 or visit agdirect.com today.

illin oi s AgDirect is an equipment financing program offered by Farm Credit Services of America and other participating Farm Credit System Institutions with lease financing provided by Farm Credit Leasing Services Corporation.

®

See for yourself. Next time you buy equipment, ask for AgDirect. Call 888-525-9805 or visit agdirect.com today.

Simple. Fast. Flexible financing.

Nobody delivers equipment financing like AgDirect

Denny has been a Central Illinois Ag customer since he bought his first piece of equipment from Richard Schmidt in 1979. Over the years, he has always been able to count on the dealership for local service and parts, and with the help of his salesman, Todd Irwin, can find the right equipment for his operation. After last fall, Denny and Harold were not happy with the performance of their corn head or the amount of maintenance it required. They began looking into a Geringhoff after hearing great reports from fellow farmers in the area, and therefore decided to purchase one for themselves in hopes of correcting the issues they faced with their last Thishead. past fall was their first year running their Geringhoff NorthStar 830 corn head. Since getting it set and adjusted to their field conditions, they have been impressed with the job it has done. According to Denny, it simply works as it should and works better than what they had been using in the past. More specifically, he likes the adjustability of the head and the

33 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

Denny Uphoff of Beason, Illinois has been involved in farming for most of his life. He grew up in Peoria county as the third generation on his family’s grain and dairy farm. From a young age, he milked cows, baled hay, walked beans, and helped out wherever he could. Years later, he decided to take a different route by going to school for engineering. However, he did not let go of farming completely as he continued working for a local famer in the area while in school. Denny received a degree in electrical engineering technology and worked in the industry for two years, before marrying his wife Nancy. Once he and Nancy were married, Nancy’s father, Bob Drake, asked him to farm with he and his brother, Dave Drake. He was excited for the opportunity and began farming fulltime in 1979 on the farm that Bob and Dave began in Logan county back in 1946. Today, Denny owns the farm with and works alongside Harold Drake, Dave’s son, with the help of their neighbors and friends, Greg Reinhardt and Jim Brown. Denny and Harold take pride in building upon their family farm by incorporating new technology and equipment when the need arises.

PRODUCTIVITY IN ALL CONDITIONS

Geringho .com

Luke Siliskie

The work Luke does each day calls for reliable equipment that he is confident will get the job done, which is why he chooses Takeuchi. “I have operated almost every other manufacturer of equipment over the years, and have always been more impressed with the Takeuchis than the others,” he says. Luke currently operates a Takeuchi TL12R2 Track Loader. It has the power and maneuverability he needs and has been an essential part of his efficiency on the job.

Over the past several years, Luke had been doing various land improvement projects for family members, friends, and local landowners in the area. Eventually, in September of 2020, Luke decided to turn this passion of his into a business venture and started Siliskie Land Today,Management.withthe help of his Takeuchi skid steer, and a few mulchers and attachments, Luke does a variety of projects for his clients. On the agriculture side, he clears field edges and fence rows for farmers. He also removes hanging tree limbs and encroaching vegetation that competes with crops for sunlight and moisture. Additionally, he does quite a bit of work in forested areas. “I can open up overgrown timber tracks from undesirable species or invasive species so that the natural vegetation and even the marketable timber can thrive and become healthier,” says Luke. He also frequently clears out brush to create trails through properties for hiking, riding, access to other areas, and property line maintenance.

Luke Siliskie of Mackinaw, IL grew up with a passion for working outdoors and has been able to turn it into a rewarding job. Luke was always exposed to the forestry industry, as he had family members who worked for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as well as the U of I Forestry Office, which kickstarted his appeal for that type of career. Over time, he developed the skill for doing home improvement projects around his family’s property and found that he enjoyed that type of handson work and wanted to pursue it.

Siliskie Land Management

When beginning his business, he chose to buy local and purchased the machine from his friend and Central Illinois Ag salesman Adam Davis. “When you buy quality equipment you don’t have to worry about seeing your dealer too much, but Adam is always checking in with me to make sure everything is going well,” says Today,Luke.

“I have always been able to look at a property and visualize how it could look with certain changes or improvements,” says Luke. “When the landowner sees these improvements carried out for the first time and sees how they can benefit them moving forward, it is such an enjoyable process to be a part of.”

Luke still owns and operates Siliskie Land Management Inc. on his own and is grateful for the size of his small business, which he believes preserves the family atmosphere and allows him to build relationships with each of his customers. It is extremely rewarding to him each time he gets to customize a unique property and bring the landowner’s vision to life.

RoppCheeseJersey

The Ropp family of Bloomington, Illinois has been milking Jersey cows on their farm since the mid 1800s. Today, sixth generation farmer, Ken Ropp, son of Ray and Carol Ropp, manages the grain and dairy farm with the help of 11 employees.

After much thought and with no other local cheese operations nearby to learn from or compare to, they took the risk anyway.

www.centralilag.com · Volume 9 Issue 1 37 Central Illinois Local Foods Spotlight

Although their journey through these difficult times in the dairy industry has not been easy, their perseverance has led to the sucessful business and farm they have today.

After graduating from the University of Illinois in 1993, Ken went to work in sales, but always wanted to eventually return to the dairy. In 2000, he was able to join a partnership with his parents, Ray and Carol, just as milk prices were at a record high. However, just six months later, prices reached a devastating low, leaving the Ropp family with some crucial decisions to make to determine the future of their operation.

“We had to adapt as a business and as a family to the wants and needs of customers,” says Ken. They became the first local cheese operation in the area by starting Ropp Jersey Cheese and had made their first blocks of cheddar by 2006.

In most sectors of agriculture, including the dairy industry, it can be difficult for small family farms to compete with larger, commercial operations. “Inputs are constantly going up and on the dairy side of things, we have been at the same low milk prices for so long,” says Ken. “Illinois only has about 400 dairy farms left, and unfortunately that number is going to keep going down.”

Ken Ropp

Ray and Ken felt that the only way for their operation to survive in today’s market was to develop a niche within the farm to set them apart. Not long after, Ken visited the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin and saw a cheese trailer demonstration, which used milk from the cows on the fairgrounds to make cheese. He had never made cheese before, but Ken began to contemplate if it was a possibility for their farm.

Fortunately for the Ropps, Jerseys have an advantage over other breeds of dairy cattle when it comes to cheese production. Jerseys are known for having a higher percentage of butterfat in their milk than any other breed. Generally, ten pounds of milk equals one pound of cheese, but with Jersey milk, only eight pounds are needed to make one pound of cheese.

A typical day at Ropp Jersey Cheese begins at 4:30 with morning milking. The milk goes directly into a bulk tank where it gets cooled, before going through the high-temperature short-time (HTST) pasteurization system. From there, it gets put into the make vat, which holds 525 gallons of milk, where the solids and liquids begin to separate into curds and whey with continuous mixing, or harping. When the curds begin to harden, they will then add salt and flavoring to get the desired product and by 1:00 p.m., they have cheddar cheese. They sell blocks of common cheeses, as well as flavored cheeses in store such as smoked gouda, green onion cheddar, habanero cheddar, and their original soft spread. However, a large portion of their sales are white cheddar cheese curds sold to local restaurants, which was going well until COVID hit and posed a huge threat to their business once again. “In the blink of an eye, we lost 50% of our business,” says Ken. “I remember milking cows with Dad that morning wondering again if the farm could survive this.”

With the help of his part-time and full-time employees, Ken currently milks 68 registered Jersey cows each day. All of the milk their cows produce, besides a small portion that is fed to young calves, is put towards cheese production, which allows them to produce around 2,000 to 3,000 pounds of cheese per week.

Visitors are always welcome onto the farm to see firsthand where their products come from and are able to speak directly to the farmers who make it happen. “It means a lot to our customers that they can talk directly to Ray and I and can come out any day to see cheese being made,” says Ken. “They know we are here and hopefully we are here for a long time to come.”

The Ropp family believes that their new and returning customers are the reason their operation has become what it is today, and that their transparency is what their customers appreciate. “I think that more than ever, consumers want to know who their producers are and be able to see the origin of their products,” says Ken. “We are happy to offer that to our customers.”

www.centralilag.com · Volume 9 Issue 1 38

www.roppcheese.com

In the years since, their operation has flourished. Today, their products are sold in 240 additional locations beyond their store on the farm, including grocery stores, markets, restaurants, Illinois wineries, and even at University of Illinois basketball and football games.

Their sales in grocery stores picked up but did not make up for what they lost overnight in sales to wineries and restaurants. Just as Ken was wondering how they would recover from this hit, he got a phone call from the president of Central Illinois Produce who was working with the USDA on supplying local food pantries.

Two days later, the program became official and they wanted to buy 5,000 half-pound blocks of cheese per week. Soon after, the Chicago food pantries got on board and the order went up to 95,000 blocks per week. Ken and a few Wisconsin dairy farmers worked together to meet this demand from May of 2020 to May of Although2021.he says we have not seen the full effects of COVID yet, they are very fortunate for this unexpected outcome. “To say that it was a blessing is an understatement,” says Ken. “All of a sudden we had a new customer base that we would have never dreamed of.”

Ken is grateful to help bridge that gap between producers and consumers while being able to provide central Illinois with a trusted, local product. “Our customers know they can call any time, and that we stand behind our product,” says Ken. “What we hope to continue as a family is to still put a face with our product and have constant contact with the customer.”

www.centralilag.com · Volume 9 Issue 1 39 XTEND YOUR VERTICAL TILLAGE INVEST IN QUALITY ® www.kuhn.com EXCELERATOR® XT 8010 Vertical Tillage 11’ - 40’3’’ working width Mid-mounted HD tines redistribute residue, level seedbed & reduce clods Star Wheel™ treaders aggressively mix soil and residue, anchoring residue into the soil surface 24/7® soil conditioning reel delivers clod sizing and firming 1° to 8° adjustable gang angle offers true vertical to XTended Tillage Excalibur ® VT blades capture and slice tough XTENDresidueYOUR VERTICAL TILLAGE INVEST IN QUALITY ® www.kuhn.com EXCELERATOR® XT 8010 Vertical Tillage 11’ - 40’3’’ working width Mid-mounted HD tines redistribute residue, level seedbed & reduce clods Star Wheel™ treaders aggressively mix soil and residue, anchoring residue into the soil surface 24/7® soil conditioning reel delivers clod sizing and firming 1° to 8° adjustable gang angle offers true vertical to XTended Tillage Excalibur ® VT blades capture and slice tough residue

A gift of grain is a unique way to make a charitable gift to Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital. You can make a grain gift by simply designating ALMH— Foundation as the recipient of bushels of grain at any local elevator. Your gift will allow you to avoid the sale of the commodity as income, thus rendering tax savings. Please consider a gift of grain. Your generosity will help ensure quality local healthcare for generations. learn more about charitable gifts, please call 217–605–5006. IL

growing for generations

To

06/22/21182–0457 Consider a gift of grain. 200 Stahlhut Dr. Lincoln,

ALMH.org/Foundation62656

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www.centralilag.com 200 Sharon Street Atlanta, IL 61723

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