Local Link
A look at the purpose of grain elevators
RURAL SKYSCRAPERS
Yuton Elevator, McLean County
To convert the golden waves of grain
that grow in the fields to cash, farmers take
their crop to a grain elevator.
“It works a lot like a bank - a farmer
deposits corn or soybeans and their account
is credited for that number of bushels,” says
Steve Dennis, Grain Department Manager for
Evergreen FS.
Farmers can take the cash bid or the
current price per bushel on the day they
deliver the grain. They can also sign a
contract to sell and deliver grain at a future
date or put the grain in storage to sell later.
“Very few farmers raise all of their crop and
then sell it all at one time,” Dennis says. “They
typically sell in increments to try and get a
good price average.”
Evergreen FS operates 8 grain elevators
in McLean County including Yuton Elevator,
located west of Bloomington. Each year, the
company handles about 22 million bushels of
grain, which is more than 24,000 semi loads.
Fall is a busy season at the elevator as
farmers bring in freshly harvested corn and
soybeans. Some of the crop may be stored in
grain bins on the farm, but the rest is hauled
straight to a grain elevator.
“Harvest usually lasts about 45 days and
we have trucks lined up from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.,”
says DeWayne Willhoite, operations staff at
Yuton Elevator.
Farmers weigh in with a loaded truck or
wagon and weigh out after dumping the
grain. The difference in weight is used to
calculate the number of bushels delivered.
“We take a sample from each truck and
analyze it for moisture, foreign material and
quality,” Dennis says. “If the grain is too wet or
poor quality the price is reduced accordingly.”
Wet grain will spoil in the bins and must
be dried to the right moisture level for proper
storage. Grain dryers blow hot air through
the grain and the moisture rises into the air
as steam.
“We condition the grain and the bulk
of it is sold to ADM in Decatur,” Dennis
says. ADM or Archer Daniels Midland
Company processes corn and soybeans
into many different products.
J. H. HAWES ELEVATOR MUSEUM - ATLANTA, IL
To learn more about the storage and shipping of grain, check out the J. H. Hawes
Elevator Museum in Atlanta, Ill. The1904 wood-cribbed grain elevator is fully restored
and works a lot like modern grain elevators. Visit www.haweselevator.org to explore
the exhibit. The elevator is open to the public for tours and demonstrations by
appointment: (217) 648-2056 or [email protected].
s p e c i a l c o u n t y Fa r m B u r e a u s e c t i o n
The massive bins and
tall structures called
grain legs that dot
the rural landscape
are an important
part of a global
transportation
system. From the
grain elevator, corn
and soybeans are
transported by train,
truck or barge to
processors, biofuel
producers and
livestock facilities all
over the world.
Local Link
A look at Rader Family Farms, LLC
W
Lynn Rader (center) and his sons Arin (left) and Adam grow corn,
soybeans, pumpkins and sweet corn on their family farm in western
McLean County. Adding retail and ag related recreational activities
created opportunities for the whole family to be involved in the farm.
Illinois #1 in Pumpkins
Illinois family farmers grow more than 80% of the
world’s supply of pumpkins that are made into food
like pie filling. Most of the pumpkins are grown
in central Illinois and processed at Nestlé Libby’s
Pumpkin Canning Facility in Morton - the pumpkin
capital of the world.
hat started as a hay rack full of pumpkins
for sale in the driveway has grown into
something much larger at Rader Family Farms,
LLC located just west of Normal.
Adding a retail pumpkin store, food service
and ag related recreational activities like a corn
maze created opportunities for the whole family
to be involved in the farming operation.
“It’s a real joy to be able to give your kids the
chance to be a part of the farm,” says Lynn Rader,
a third generation McLean County farmer. Lynn
and his wife Linda have three married children
and seven grandchildren.
“Our goal was to expand and diversify so that
our kids could get started in farming,” Lynn says.
His sons Adam and Arin currently work full-time
jobs off the farm and help on the farm in the
evenings and on weekends.
“Fall is an extremely busy time,” Adam says.
Corn and soybean harvest coincides with the
fall festivities of the pumpkin farm. That means
juggling work and family with running the
combine and the seasonal business.
The Raders grow 2300 acres of corn and
soybeans. The farm also includes 75 acres
of pumpkins for processing and 30 acres
of pumpkins for retail sale plus sweet corn,
decorative gourds and Indian corn.
“We enjoy giving people the opportunity
to experience a little bit of the country,” Linda
says. “Last year, we averaged 6,000 people per
weekend.”
Rader Family Farms is open for six weeks/
seven weekends in the fall. Visitors can enjoy
apple cider floats, take a hay rack ride and
wander through the corn maze.
“This will be the third year for the corn maze,”
Arin says. The design for this year celebrates the
100th Anniversary of the Illinois State University
Department of Agriculture and features Reggie
Redbird.
Activities for kids include a straw castle, farm
animals and corn play bins.
“One year, Dad filled a plastic swimming pool
with corn and the kids loved playing in it,” Adam
says.
The Raders plan to re-purpose small grain
bins into corn play bins this year. A soybean
s p e c i a l c o u n t y Fa r m B u r e a u s e c t i o n
“It’s a real joy to be able to give you kids the chance to be part of the farm.”
-Lynn Rader, McLean County farmer
FAMILY FOCUS
Four generations of
the Rader family
welcome visitors to
their farm each fall.
Fun family activities,
food and plenty of
pumpkins are available
throughout the season
at the Rader farm on
Ropp Road west of
Normal. Just look for
the orange pumpkin
topped silo.
maze has been added for young
children and for the less daring.
“We also host field trips in the fall,”
Linda says. More than 3,000 children
visited the farm in 2010.
“Last year, we had a goat give birth
during a field trip,” Adam says. “It was
quite an experience for those kids.”
As the pumpkin business has grown,
dividing responsibilities has helped the
Raders accommodate the growth.
“Each family member has a
management role,” Linda says.
Daughter Amy Hughes manages
the retail store and the field trips. Her
husband Matt handles the website and
all the technical aspects of the business.
Adam serves as expansion project
manager and works on adding new
activities to the farm.
“This year, we’re adding a grove of
trees called the Trees of Illinois,” Adam
says. Visitors will be able to see and
learn about native tree species.
Adam’s wife Shannon manages the
marketing for the pumpkin farm and all
the birthday parties.
Arin takes care of grounds
maintenance and produce. His wife
Abby manages all of the food service.
Lynn’s primary responsibility is
growing the pumpkins, sweet corn and
other crops. He also makes Poppy’s
Kettle Korn each weekend in the fall.
“I take care of the employees,” Linda
says. “We have 50-60 great part-time
employees in the fall”
Close proximity to BloomingtonNormal makes Rader Family Farms an
easy destination for local families.
“Our location is one of our biggest
assets,” Adam says. The farm’s orange
pumpkin topped silo is a visible
landmark on Ropp Road.
For the Raders, the pumpkin farm
is one way to plan for the future and
for passing the land on to the next
generation.
“My grandfather bought this
farm in 1945,” Lynn says. “I’m the
third generation to farm it and my
children are the fourth. We hope our
grandchildren will want to carry on the
family farm too.”
s p e c i a l c o u n t y Fa r m B u r e a u s e c t i o n
Open Sept 17- Oct. 31, 2011
Monday - Saturday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: noon to 6 p.m.
For More Information
www.raderfamilyfarms.com
(309) 275-3705
[email protected]
Discount for McLean County
Farm Bureau members
Show your MCFB membership card
and receive $1 off admission per
person for up to four people.This offer
is good Sept. 17 - 30, 2011.
Local Link
A look at what’s happening this fall
Be sure to check out the McLean
County Farm Bureau tent at these
ISU footballl games for fun farm
activities, facepainting & free
popcorn:
McLean County Barn Tour
Saturday, September 10
Take a drive through rural
McLean County and visit some local,
historic barns on Sat., Sept. 10 from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Sixth Annual McLean County
Barn Tour features barns near
Ellsworth and LeRoy plus a stop at
Twin Grove Wind Farm.
Attendees can register and pick
up their map and tour booklet at
the United Methodist Church in
Ellsworth. Breakfast and lunch will
also be available for purchase at the
church.
The cost for the tour is $15 per
carload or attendees can purchase
membership in the McLean County
Barn Keepers for $25 enjoy the tour
for free. Visitors can complete the tour at
their own pace.
The tour is sponsored by McLean
County Barn Keepers, a group that
works to document and share
information about local barns and
promote barn preservation and
restoration.
On Tues., Sept. 6, at 7 p.m. the
Barn Keepers will host David Bauer
from the Garfield Farm Museum
to speak about barn architecture
and heritage at the Farm Bureau
Auditorium, 402 N Hershey Rd, in
Bloomington.
For more information about the
tour or the McLean County Barn
Keepers, contact Jim Hanlin at
(309) 662-0101.
ISU Football Ag Day
Sat., Sept. 10
ISU v. Morehead State
@ Hancock Stadium
Tailgating @ 3:30 p.m.
Game @ 6:30 p.m.
Join in the centennial celebration for
the Department of Agriculture at
Illinois State University Football Ag
Day.
Communiversity
Sat., Sept. 24
ISU v. South Dakota State
@ Hancock Stadium
Tailgating @ 3 p.m.
Game @ 6 p.m.
Sponsored by the McLean County
Chamber of Commerce
To Purchase Tickets:
Contact Illinois State University
Athletics at (309) 438-8000 or
www.goredbirds.com
Membership Means Value: For Your Home
Show your McLean County Farm Bureau Membership card to save on products and services for your home:
CarpetsPlus ColorTile - 10% discount
Bloomington Carpets - Deluxe carpet pad free with any
custom residential carpet order
Upholstery Services - 10% normal fabric prices
The Pond Doctor - 10% discount
BJ’s Restoration - 10% discount
Sherwin-Williams - 25% discount on paint, brushes &
rollers, wallpaper, window treatments, ladders, stains,
sealants, removers and much more!
(excludes Duration Paints & ColorsToGo)
Visit www.mcfb.org for more great discounts!
s p e c i a l c o u n t y Fa r m B u r e a u s e c t i o n