Live.Work.Grow - Volume 8 Issue 1

Live.Work.Grow.

Volume 8 Issue 1

ATLANTA 路 CLINTON 路 FARMER CITY 路 MASON CITY www.centralilag.com 路 Volume 8 Issue 1 1

in this issue 5

Volume 8 Issue 1

4

A Note from Michael Schmidt

5

Women In Ag: Linda Garlisch

9

A Geringhoff Harvest

12

Illinois Soybean Association: Atlanta Farmer Uses His Voice for Soy

17

13

The MacDon Difference

17

Hassebrock Farms: Through the Generations

21

Remembering Nathan Hieronymus: A New Meaning to the Family Farm.

25

Automatically Optimize with AFS Harvest Command

21 25 33 1 ¡ Central Illinois Ag ¡ www.centralilag.com

29

New Horizons Concrete: Takeuchi Loyal

33

Local Foods: Farmers Feeding America

35

Local Foods: Tyson Farms

39

The Meaning of a Family Farm

41

Photo Gallery

On the Cover Frontier Farms harvesting soybeans in DeWitt county with their Case IH 7250 combine.

Hello everyone and Happy New Year!

It was great to get out and visit many of you in the field again. 2020 was an interesting year, but we are looking forward to all that 2021 has to offer! It is hard to believe that we have finished yet another Live.

Work.Grow magazine, but we love getting the chance to meet and build relationships with our customers, and are extremely grateful that you trust us to tell your unique stories of family and farming. We hope you enjoy the articles in this issue and see some familiar faces! As always, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out. We hope to see you soon! amiller@centralilag.com

Abby Miller, Marketing Director

dirwin@centralilag.com

-Abby Miller and Dawn Irwin

Dawn Irwin, Assistant Marketing Director

BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR YOUR FUTURE Farm Management - Experienced managers will work with you to ensure your farmland’s productivity and financial returns.

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508 Broadway St.

l

David W. Irwin Vice President Farm Manager

Michael Turner

Assistant Vice President Farm Manager

Lincoln, IL

217-735-5551

Leadership Team:

Brian Reeser - Vice President

Steve Schmidt - Chief Executive Officer

Tim Evans - Chief Financial Officer

Michael Schmidt - President

Abby Miller - Marketing Director www.centralilag.com · Volume 8 Issue 1 2

Locations Atlanta 200 Sharon St. Atlanta, IL 61723 (217) 648-2307

Clinton 1000 State Route 10 E. Clinton, IL 61727 (217) 935-8373

Steve Schmidt Atlanta, IL (217) 666-6078 Michael Schmidt Lincoln, IL (217) 737-8669 Brian Reeser Clinton, IL (217) 519-4341 John Coers New Holland, IL (217) 837-7009

Farmer City 792 U.S. Hwy 150 E. Farmer City, IL 61842 (309) 928-2154

Sales Team Austin Coers New Holland, IL (217) 666-6077 Joe Fisher Petersburg, IL (217) 666-6079 Doug Franzen Farmer City, IL (309) 606-7045

3 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

Mason City 130 Tonica St. Mason City, IL 62664 (217) 482-9760

Michael Wheet Heyworth, IL (309) 606-7046 Tyler Williams San Jose, IL (217) 666-6086 Adam Davis McLean, IL (217) 666-6093 Todd Irwin Kenney, IL (217) 666-6085

A Note from michael Schmidt A

President, Central Illinois Ag

nother year of planting and harvest is complete and I think we are all excited to get this cold weather over with and get back in the field. This fall brought a bountiful harvest across the nation – it was great to see many of you in the field working sunrise to sunset.

outlook says, “U.S. agricultural exports in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 are projected at $140.5 billion, up $5.5 billion from the revised forecast for FY 2020. This increase is primarily driven by higher exports of soybeans and corn. Soybean exports are forecast up $4.2 billion from FY 2020 to $20.4 billion, largely due to expected strong I am very proud of our team at Central Illinois Ag for demand from China and reduced competition from helping you maximize your time spent in the field. Brazil. Corn exports are projected up $700 million to Our dedicated service technicians and reliable service $9.0 billion on expectations of higher export volume.’’ managers continue to impress me each year but this season stands out especially. From early mornings However, as much as we plan for the future – we cannot packing up the service truck to late night service calls – predict it. One thing we can do is focus on the current they love what they do and it truly shows. situation and play the cards we are dealt in the best way.

It does not just stop there – our sales, parts, accounting, marketing, and leadership teams have really stepped up. We are all a team and understanding that we must work together and help each other out is the secret. As a business owner, I am extremely proud of our employees and the hard work they have put in this past year, a year of adapting to change but also pushing forward to support you, our Central Illinois Ag family.

We have lived through a year of unknowns, and guess what – 2021 will also be filled with unexpected events too, good and maybe not so good. However, the upcoming year has a lot to look forward to. The good news according to the USDA Outlook from August 2020, grain prices are expected to increase in 2021. The

As always, we enjoy getting to know you and your operation and helping you succeed in and out of the field. We look forward to hearing from you with the upcoming planting season – be sure to tag us on Instagram and Twitter at @LiveWorkGrowCIA, as well as follow us on Facebook!

Goodbye, 2020 – Hello, 2021. On behalf of all of us at Central Illinois Ag, thank you for another wonderful year.

Michael Schmidt mschmidt@centralilag.com President, Central Illinois Ag

@MPSchmidtAg

www.centralilag.com · Volume 8 Issue 1 4

Women In Ag : Linda Garlisch

“W

hen you get to do what you love every day, it and therefore, dedicated a lot of time to working with does not feel like work,” says Linda Garlisch their animals before 4-H shows. on being a woman working in the agriculture industry.

On snowy, winter days, she remembers when her dad Linda grew up on her family’s grain and livestock would take them out to pick up hay bales from the field farm in Mason City, Illinois. From a very young age, to feed the cows before dinner. He would drive his old, she remembers helping her father with the everyday gray Fordson tractor and pull Linda, Dean, and Sue on chores around the farm and developing a passion for a sled through the snow behind him; a fond memory agriculture. that she and her siblings will never forget.

She and her siblings, Dean and Sue, were responsible for doing cattle chores each morning before school and spending each summer helping around the farm as well.

Between walking beans, baling hay, and building fence, Linda learned the value of hard work from a young age.

She and her siblings also showed cattle each summer

5 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

As Linda got older, she began to take on more responsibilities on the farm. She remembers the first tractor she drove: a John Deere 2020. She got the job of running it with the field cultivator in the spring, which little did she know, was just the beginning of many years of working in the field.

After school, Linda married Richard Garlisch, whom she met through showing cattle in 4-H. She then began working as a dental assistant, but continued to stay involved on her husband’s family farm.

Richard farmed with his father, Louis Garlisch, when they first got married, so Linda helped them with field work part-time over the years.

From running the combine to doing tillage work, Linda loved being an active part of her family’s operation.

Later on, they had their son, Scott, who Linda is grateful to have been able to raise similarly to how she and Richard were raised. Scott was always involved in the farming and livestock and went on to farm fulltime with Richard after college, keeping the family tradition alive.

Linda decided to retire from dentistry after 33 years and was excited to have the opportunity to dedicate more time to farming with her family. Today, she is farming full-time with Richard and Scott in Forest City and is happy to be doing what she loves each day. She and

Photo: The Garlisch family harvesting beans, Fall of 2020

Photo: Linda and her grandsons Barrett (2) and Cooper (4) in her Farmall tractor.

Richard have also just celebrated 44 way, which leads Linda to wonder years of marriage. how farming will be different when her grandsons, Cooper and Barrett, “I enjoy working outside and the hopefully take over the operation in flexibility of being your own boss,” the future. says Linda. “But the best part is spending time with family each day.” Being a woman working in agriculture can sometimes have its Throughout her life, she has seen challenges, but Linda’s experience many changes in the agriculture over the years has been anything but industry from when she was a challenging in that way. “Guys in the child to now. GPS technology, industry have total respect for us weather radars, and improved women and treat us just the same,” communication through CBs in the says Linda. tractor are just some of the amazing advancements that she wishes her She strongly encourages more young dad were here to see today. “The women to be involved in agriculture changes that have come about from and offers one piece of advice: having unpaved roads and horses to “Things are always changing on the now having GPS and autosteer are farm, you have to be flexible and be incredible,” says Linda. able to roll with the punches, but if you have the drive to do it, do it,” she It seems as though each generation says. “At the end of the day I cannot on a farm sees great improvements in imagine doing anything else.” technology and machinery in some

www.centralilag.com · Volume 8 Issue 1 6

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8 Issue 1 8

A Geringhoff Harvest

T

im Folkes of San Jose, Illinois has been farming ever since he learned how to drive his dad’s Farmall H tractor at just six years old. “I always knew that I wanted to farm,” says Tim. “I never had a question about that.” He helped his dad, Tom Folkes, with field work throughout his childhood until he began farming with him full time in 1979, becoming the fifth generation on the family farm.

Today, he farms with his neighbor, Don Smith, around the San Jose area.

He also holds on to the importance of the family farm as his sons, Andy and Nate, help out with field work on evenings and weekends throughout the year.

Tim has been with the Central Illinois Ag family from the very beginning

when he purchased his first axialflow combine from Bill Marcotte of Marcotte International in Lincoln, Illinois. Today, he is happy to be a returning customer and now works with our salesman, and his nephew, Tyler Williams, and has built a great relationship over the years with our Mason City parts representative, Randy Grigg.

Tim decided it was time to upgrade his corn head a couple of years ago.

He had noticed that many of his neighbors around the area had been using Geringhoff corn heads, so he talked to a few of them to learn more about the product. They all recommended the head for a more efficient harvest, so he ultimately decided to purchase a Geringhoff NorthStar 830 head.

For the past two seasons, Tim and Don have been harvesting corn with their Geringhoff head and are pleased with their results. The main difference between this and the head they used prior is a decrease in shelled corn lost. “It doesn’t shell nearly as bad which saves us a lot of grain at the end of the day,” says Tim. Additionally, they enjoy the convenience aspects of the head, such as the automatic header controls from the cab, the self-adjusting gathering chains, and how the snouts can easily hook and unhook if needed.

From saving grain in the field to low maintenance out of the field, Tim has no regrets with his purchase of a Geringhoff and would recommend this head to help out fellow farmers, just as his neighbors did for him.

Tim and his wife, Cindy.

9 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

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When it’s time to harvest your they are well known in the industry for crops, harvest them with the peace of being the most with dependable head on the mind that comes a Geringhoff. market. When it’s time to harvest your crops, harvest them with the peace of mind that comes with a Geringhoff.

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11 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

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Atlanta Farmer Uses his Voice for Soy S

Ron Kindred

ince 1999, Atlanta, Illinois farmer Ron Kindred has been advocating for legislation and policies on behalf of the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA).

However, 2020 may always be the year that stands out. COVID-19 social distancing measures and sheltering in place have forced Kindred and other farmers to find new ways to connect, communicate and educate lawmakers.

written email that can be personalized and sent directly to each farmer’s lawmakers. When ISA issues an action request, those in the network receive a message from the group that it is time to take action and send the email. If a phone call action request is placed, phone numbers and issue details are distributed for farmers to call their respective legislators.

“I really enjoy being involved and being in the know when it comes to agriculture policy,” says Kindred, who serves as a director for the association and is chair of ISA’s Government Relations Committee. “I have witnessed how much of a difference it makes when we lobby. And given the events of 2020, it is vitally important, now more than ever, that we let our legislators know how policies and regulations impact farmers and our industry. It cannot be underestimated.”

Kindred anticipates Voice for Soy will be a critical tool in the coming year, too, given a new farm bill is on the horizon. By sharing ISA’s priorities with farmers and then with lawmakers, the information gets shared in committee meetings and gives farmers a leg up on farm policy.

One of the innovative ways Kindred and others have been able to effectively get their message out is through ISA’s Voice for Soy Action Center (www. voiceforsoy.org). The online resource allows participants to efficiently deliver a consistent message without personal contact.

“Voice for Soy is a great way for farmers to contact elected officials. The site arms farmers with the most current information so they are equipped to take immediate action,” says Kindred.

Voice for Soy provides a pathway for its participants to share the position of Illinois soybean farmers via a pre-

“It is critically important for legislators who shape the future of farm policy to hear directly from farmers about how programs like crop insurance affect them,” he says. “Some farmers used crop insurance for the first time in 2019 and in 2020. By sharing how beneficial the crop insurance renewal act was for them, farmers help protect the program for future generations.”

Washington in support of the federal biodiesel tax credit.

After serving more than 20 years on the ISA board, Kindred now believes engaging with new and young members is key to ISA’s ongoing, successful outreach with elected officials.

“We are transitioning to the next generation on our family farm, so I understand the dynamics of sharing my experiences. Young farmers are good at a lot of things I am not good at and I think I am good at some of the things they are not so good at,” he says. “If we share our knowledge as mentors, we will be a better organization and shape better policy for future generations.

“The experiences I have had have been extremely rewarding,” Kindred sums.

“It is a humbling and tremendous opportunity to speak to national and international audiences on behalf of Illinois soybean farmers and to elevate Voice for Soy so we can expand its use.

I hope people who knew me 20 years ago and still know me today have Biodiesel is another example. Biodiesel watched me grow as a person and as production and use are critical to a leader.” the Illinois economy, since biodiesel is made in Illinois from soybean oil. Kindred encourages all Illinois By supporting the industry, Kindred soybean supporters to sign up for Voice says farmers help create a strong for Soy. Using a smartphone, send a marketplace and strengthen the price text to 52886 with the word “SOY.” of soybeans. Voice for Soy has been A response will be sent immediately engaged in maintaining the state sales back with a link to complete a profile tax exemption for biodiesel blends of so the new user can begin advocating more than 11 percent and again in for soybeans.

www.centralilag.com · Volume 8 Issue 1 12

The MacDon Difference

R

obert Lowers of Easton, Illinois has been farming for as long as he can remember. His father, Tom Lowers, started from scratch when he began farming in the early 1970s. Robert and his brother, Ryan, eventually took over becoming R & R Lowers Farm after their father passed away.

In 2010, the Lowers began to hear about draper heads and the benefits to owning one. At the time, their father had a 2388 combine and a conventional flex header, and they decided in 2012 to trade for a 7120 combine and a 30-foot 2162 MacDon draper head.

Robert says he noticed how the MacDon cut beans better than their previous head right off the bat, and he was impressed with the lack of shatter and head loss he saw. “After running a MacDon, we did not even consider another brand,” says Robert. “It did an amazing job.”

Robert remembers the first day he ran the MacDon. His salesman, John Coers, was out helping him set it up and teaching him how to run it and it was about 6:00 p.m. when he got started cutting beans on his own. Before he knew it, he saw dew

shining on the field and realized it was midnight. The header was still feeding evenly, he had not slowed down any, and he was still running just as easily as he had earlier that evening.

Since then, there have been many instances where Robert has been able to start harvesting earlier in the day and end later at night. He likes that he is not as limited to a certain window of time each day when cutting beans, as he had been in the past. “I have been able to cut a lot of tough beans that my conventional header would have never been able to do,” says Robert.

After running the 2162 for several years and being pleased with the results, Robert decided to upgrade and trade for a MacDon FD75 in 2018.

With the FD75, he has noticed a difference in yield when working in less than desirable conditions. Last year, he had a field under water at three different times throughout the year. Although the beans had a lot of pods on them, they were only a foot tall and he was not expecting that field to make over 10 bushels an acre that fall. However, he was quite

13 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

surprised at how well the MacDon was able to pick up the crop and pull in the beans and they ended up exceeding his expectations.

Throughout the years, Robert has been pleased with his MacDon and cannot imagine running any other brand each harvest. He is also glad to have been a Central Illinois Ag customer for so long and to have John Coers as his trusted salesman.

When Robert’s father found out that he had cancer and only a month to live in October of 2013, John reached out to him immediately and asked if he and Ryan needed any harvest help.

He ended up sending them a second combine and head to run to finish up harvest that year, which meant a lot to the Lowers family and is a gesture that they won’t soon forget. “John has been good to us,” says Robert.

“He is a honest guy and we are lucky to get to work with him.”

Robert Lowers

www.centralilag.com ¡ Volume 8 Issue 1 14

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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. CNH Industrial Genuine Parts is a trademark in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. www.caseih.com MRC

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15 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

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Hassebrock Farms

through the generations P

assing the family farm down through multiple generations is a value which is cherished by many within the agriculture community. Over the past few decades, the threat of disappearing family farms has been hard to ignore with the pressure on farmers to adapt and expand at the expense of smaller farmers.

Being able to share the lifestyle you love with your children and grandchildren is what farmers strive for and hope to preserve in this ever-changing landscape of agriculture.

Despite these concerns in the agriculture industry, the Hassebrock family in Beason, Illinois serves as an excellent example of a local farm that has been successful at preserving the family aspect of their farm for generations.

Gene Hassebrock grew up helping his dad, John Jr., in the field whenever he had the chance. At just ten years old, he can remember his dad putting him in a field to plow by himself for the very first time. Driving a John Deere G tractor with a hand clutch, Gene got the job done and his love for farming took off.

After high school, however, Gene took a different route and went to work in a factory for a few years before

17 ¡ Central Illinois Ag ¡ www.centralilag.com

joining the Army in 1965. In 1970, he married Marsha Boyer and came back home to work with his dad on the farm. At the time, his dad was farming about 500 acres.

Gene was able to rent 240 acres of his own and buy out a farmer for just $10,000, giving him a full line of his own equipment, and he has been farming ever since.

Gene and his father have witnessed significant improvements and worked through challenges in the agriculture industry over the years. Gene can remember his father in the field some nights plowing with only candlelight to guide him. Then, when John Jr. was in his 90s, he got to experience GPS along with other new technologies that Gene had introduced to their operation.

Gene has always held on to the importance of incorporating his own family in the farming operation.

His wife, Marsha, enjoys helping run the auger wagon each fall and used to shred corn stalks on the Gehlbach Pork Farm where their neighbors would haul hog manure. His children, Corey and Mindy, are fifth generation and were involved as they grew up as well.

From a very young age, they were tagging along with Gene and riding in the tractor during planting and harvest.

Corey says he will never forget the day his dad needed help and put him in a tractor by himself to shred corn stalks. “I messed up a few times, but I did good enough and learned from it,” Corey recalls. Eventually, he started running a Kinze auger wagon with a 4960 John Deere tractor each harvest and continued helping Gene part time over the years.

Gene’s brother, Edward, worked on the family farm until his retirement ten years ago, which was shortly before John Jr. passed away. After that, Gene knew that he needed to bring in more help on the farm in order to keep it going. Around the same time, Gene’s son, Corey, and his wife had just found out they were expecting. Corey says that with a baby on the way, he realized that he needed to get serious about figuring out what he wanted to do for a living to provide for his growing family.

spoke for themselves in the field with less slip, and the power the tractor had was just what they were looking for. After using the Quadtrac for three seasons, Corey says he would not go back to a wheeled high horsepower tractor.

Last year, they expanded their line of red equipment with a Farmall 70A for smaller jobs around the farm and a Magnum 380 for some extra horsepower in the field. The Hassebrocks say the purchase of this Magnum, which was previously owned by a local farmer and friend of theirs, was an easy decision to make because the deal salesman Austin Coers gave them was too good to pass up. “Purchasing Case IH equipment was a no brainer for us,” says Gene.

“Case IH has interest rates that other brands cannot compete with.”

“Austin has been super helpful.

With the timing aligning just right, He is always there when you Corey was able to begin farming need him and doesn’t leave until full-time with his dad. Today, Gene you are satisfied.” and Corey farm corn and soybeans -Gene Hassebrock in Logan County, and have begun to transition into running Case IH equipment, after decades of being an all-green operation.

At the end of the day, their passion for farming and working with family is A few years back, Gene had wanted what keeps the Hassebrocks wanting to try something new and begin to continue farming and pass on this purchasing red equipment. However, lifestyle to Corey’s children in the Corey was a bit hesitant at first. Gene future. had been having issues running his chisel plow with the tractor he had “It is hard to believe I started out with been using, so he reached out to nothing, working in a factory every Central Illinois Ag about trying out a day,” says Gene. “This farm has been Case IH Steiger 580 Quadtrac to give good to us and I would not want to be tracks a try. doing anything else.”

Corey and his children, Makia, Kenley, Leland, and Kianna.

John Hassebrock Jr. with his first Farmall tractor.

After only one round in the field, Corey and Gene were impressed with the machine and loved the difference they saw in traction alone. The tracks

www.centralilag.com · Volume 8 Issue 1 18 Gene and his wife, Marsha

30/36 THE NEXT GENERATION OF PERFORMANCE Introducing the all new Pro-Till by Degelman. Available in 4 new sizes, we’ve raised the bar on what you should expect out of your tillage equipment. Built heavy with a “drop the pin and go” mentality, this is next generation tillage as only Degelman can do.

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19 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

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www.centralilag.com · Volume 8 Issue 1 20

Remembering Nathan Hieronymus

A new meaning to the Family Farm

Dan Reynolds helping Tom finish up harvest.

“P

eople always say, ‘call me if you need anything,’ but you can’t call someone and ask for a combine,” says Connie Hieronymus.

“Our friends just showed up when we needed them most.”

Whether he was riding to the elevator in the grain truck with his mom or learning how to drive the tractor through the field with his dad, he always wanted to be involved on the family farm in some way.

2020 has been a challenging year for most everyone in one way or another, but what the Hieronymus family has gone through this year changed their lives forever. On July 20, 2020, Tom and Connie Hieronymus’s son, Nathan, passed away unexpectedly at just 42 years old. The emotions they have had to work through and the hardships they have experienced these past several months are hard to put into words, but the outpouring of support that the farming community around them has offered has been an unbelievable blessing to their family.

After graduating from Parkland College, Nathan began working with his dad full-time, becoming the fifth generation in the family to farm in Farmer City, Illinois. Nathan had been transitioning into taking on more ownership of the farm over the last several years. In the spring of 2019, Nathan purchased his first piece of farm equipment, a Case IH Magnum. Although their time unexpectedly got cut short, Nathan and Tom got to farm together for 20 years.

has been following in his father’s footsteps and wants to be involved as much as he can. “He was a born farmer,” says Connie. “He already knows more about farming than most farmers do. We want to keep this going for him.”

In the midst of grieving the loss of their son, Tom and Connie had no choice but to begin thinking about how they were going to get the crop out this fall with harvest quickly approaching. At first, Tom thought that he could have local grain elevators send semi-trucks out to help haul their grain, and they could figure out the rest from there.

However, before any plans could be made, family, friends, and neighbors from near and far began reaching out to the Hieronymus family with Nathan and his wife, Ashley, have one common question: what can we two children, Paisley (8) and Hank do to help?

From a very young age, Nathan (4), who also love to be in the field developed a love for farming. with their grandparents. Hank

21

Central Illinois Ag www.centralilag.com

Four generations of Hieronymus Farms in front of Nathan’s Magnum.

It started with Connie’s sister, Laurie Franklin, and her husband, Greg. Without being asked, Laurie decided to take a leave of absence from her job at Growing Grounds to drive the auger wagon for them this fall. Greg dedicated his two days off of work each week to being in the field as well. Connie and Tom were shocked at the start of harvest when he showed up and asked “what do I do?”

“You don’t ask, you just show up,” says Greg. “It was the right thing to do.”

Bryce Zacharias from Parkersburg, Iowa, a close friend of the Hieronymus family, had the same mindset this fall. One day he reached out to Tom and said that he was bringing his motor home down to Illinois and was going to stay and help until harvest was over. He offered to drive the semi all season while Tom ran the combine, which is what Nathan had always done in years past. “It is just what you do,” says Bryce. “Good friends help friends.”

The Hieronymus family was amazed by the outpouring of love from these three, but to their helpers, it was the least they could do. However, the love and support the family recieved did not stop

there. Father and son Mike and Michael Bushman showed up with their semis to offer more help with trucking, as did Russ Pearl with Pearl Trucking. Nathan’s father-inlaw, Rick Noble, stepped in to help as well, and neighbors Kurt Wells, Drew Wells, and Frank Glen were right behind him.

Kurt, Drew, and Frank had just finished up for the day and saw Tom harvesting a 130 acre field with mile long rows, so they brought their combine, semi, and auger wagon over to help him finish up that field that night. Connie says that Hank was riding along that day and when he pointed out that the Wells’ combine was green, she reminded him, “It may be green, but it’s love.”

Shortly after, their neighbor, Dan Reynolds, who farmed right across the road had just gotten done with harvest, so he too brought over his combine and auger wagon to help Tom finish up corn. Again, Hank noticed the extra combine and tractor in the field and said to Connie, “Look Grandma, it’s love too!” At such a young age and in so few words, Hank has been able to see the kindness and compassion shown by each person who came to help and bring light to such a difficult time.

Tom and Nathan

Bryce Zacharias

Connie and Tom

www.centralilag.com · Volume 8 Issue 1 22

With all this help, Hieronymus Farms was able to finish harvest earlier than they had originally thought possible. Tom and Connie have been blown away with the generosity of their family and their friends, who have become more like family after this year. They cannot begin to thank those enough who voluntarily stepped in to help and gave a new meaning to the family farm this fall.

Although everyone’s primary goal this harvest was to help get the job done, it went beyond that. Connie and Tom saw it as a way for Nathan to continue to touch people’s lives and their combined graciousness adds to the story of Nathan’s.

Nathan will be remembered for his charismatic and energetic personality. His sister, Leslie Hieronymus said it best in her eulogy for her brother: “I want to believe that our higher power knew that we would only get him for 42 short years, so Nathan had to have all of that energy packed into every day. He lived a 100-year life in 42 years.”

Tom and Hank wearing bib overalls like Nathan always used to.

Greg Franklin running the auger cart this fall.

The Hieronymus family is grateful to have had the time with him that they did, even though it did not seem like nearly enough. Today, they are coping with the loss of their loved one the best they can but acknowledge that they would not be where they are today without the incredible people around them.

“It hasn’t been easy, but we take it one day at a time,” says Connie. “All the love from our friends and family is what has gotten us through.”

23 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

Nathan and his wife, Ashley, with their children Paisley and Hank.

Tom Hieronymus, Laurie Franklin, and Bryce Zacharias.

FIND FINDYOUR YOURPERFECT PERFECTFLOW. FLOW.

At harvest, you have one goal: ensuring an effortless flow of grain from the field to the bin. Case IH Axial-Flow® combines are ® At harvest, you havecapacity one goal:to ensuring an effortless flow of The grainindustry-leading from the field tosingle the bin.

Case IH Axial-Flow combines engineered for matched deliver proven grain savings. rotor design ensures grain qualityare engineered for matched capacity to deliver proven grain savings.

The industry-leading single rotor design ensures grain and increased productivity. And the new AFS Harvest Command™ automation can even optimize harvest settings on the go. quality increased productivity. the new AFS Command™ automation can even optimize harvest settings on the go.

Keepand efficiency flowing smoothly And — learn more at Harvest caseih.com/perfect-flow.

Keep efficiency flowing smoothly — learn more at caseih.com/perfect-flow.

©2019 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. Case IH is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, ownedAmerica by or licensed by rights CNH Industrial N.A., itsIHsubsidiaries or affiliates. ©2019 CNH Industrial LLC. All reserved.

Case is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed by CNH Industrial N.A., its subsidiaries or affiliates.

www.centralilag.com · Volume 8 Issue 1 24

Automatically Optimize With

AFS Harvest Command A

successful harvest isn’t measured by speed; it’s measured in bushels of clean, high-quality grain in the tank. To bring a new level of simplicity and efficiency to your harvest, Case IH has rolled out new combine automation technology.

Flow® combines, which helps you optimize machine performance and prioritize different harvesting outcomes for corn, soybeans, wheat and canola. Using patent-pending technology, AFS Harvest Command automation proactively adjusts the combine to changing crop conditions. With its 16 sensors throughout the New from Case IH Advanced Farming Systems (AFS), machine, AFS Harvest Command automation takes is AFS Harvest Command™ combine automation over controlling seven combine settings. This advanced system, available only on the new 250 series Axial- technology turns a driver into a skilled operator.

25 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

How it works

Auto-Cut Width adjusts combine cut width when traveling through odd-shaped fields, point rows or previously harvested areas to provide accurate yield Vehicles with this autonomous capability are equipped reading and post harvest yield maps to give you the tools with GPS precision down to sub-inch accuracy, along to best plan for next year’s crop management programs. with intermediate level sensing and perception to avoid environmental obstacles. In the harvest example, as the tractor and grain cart approach the combine, the FIELD SOLUTIONS combine takes control of the tractor, including steering AFS Harvest Command: Harvest at peak efficiency and coordinating the speeds of the two vehicles to ensure with the AFS Harvest Command combine automation efficient unloading. In addition to reducing workforce system. Available with the Axial-Flow 250 series requirements, this level of autonomy can keep combine combine, this advanced technology simplifies harvest operators fresher through those long harvest days by by proactively sensing and optimizing machine settings easing the stress of repetitive tasks. It also simplifies to maximize grain quality and grain savings, regardless of operator skill level. combine operation for less experienced operators.

Yield and Moisture Monitor: Monitor and record harvesting data, helping make decisions to improve Case IH Axial-Flow 250 series combines are engineered current yield and maximize future yield potential. to make the most of harvest — with advanced features such as 2-speed electric shift ground drive transmission, AFS Variety Tracking: Analyze seed variety performance adjustable rotor cage vanes, improved feeder house using data from planting in conjunction with yield and design and optional AFS Harvest Command combine moisture data tracked at harvest — up to 30 different automation system. varieties per field.

AXIAL-FLOW 250 SERIES COMBINES

AFS CONNECT

AFS Connect allows you to precisely manage your farm, fleet and data anywhere from a computer, phone or tablet.

AUTOGUIDANCE

AFS AccuGuideTM autoguidance provides handsfree steering to achieve and maintain accurate row positioning in ever-changing harvest conditions. Case IH offers various guidance corrections from sub-meter to sub-inch tailored to your operation and farming practices.

Updated in 2020, AFS RowGuideTM guidance provides accurate, hands-off steering during corn harvest to reduce operator fatigue. The row-guidance row feeler sensor was also redesigned to further increase row sensing performance.

Fleet Management: Coordinate unloading, maintenance and refueling to make the most of tight harvesting windows. Efficiently plan your day by sharing guidance lines, and field boundaries with multiple pieces of equipment.

Visualize Data: Create and upload field boundaries with custom layers—from planting/seeding to harvesting.

Aggregate data from multiple machines in one field and visualize actionable layers of agronomic data.

Custom Reports: Build reports that show area worked, yield average, flow average, moisture average and more.

Your agronomic data is all online and available to be used with the report builder tool to generate valuable activity reports for your landlords or other trusted partners.

www.centralilag.com · Volume 8 Issue 1 26

Custom Alerts: Receive notifications about yield Performance: moisture and other harvest data. Configure alerts Maximize grain savings and grain quality while straight to your mobile phone to notify you when the optimizing throughput. machine is operating outside of the parameters you set.

Grain Quality: Data Sharing: Seamlessly transfer harvesting data. Maximize grain quality while also saving grain and Securely share information to farm managers, dealers optimizing throughput. or trusted partners you choose.

Max throughput: The operator can maximize throughput while automation adjusts combine settings to save grain.

Fixed throughput: The operator can fix the machine throughput and the machine will adjust to save grain and maintain a quality sample.

This advanced technology simplifies your harvest by proactively sensing and optimizing machine settings to maximize grain quality and grain savings regardless of operator skill level. Experienced operators can Regardless of the time of day, crop conditions or moisture further enhance their output and grain quality, while levels, AFS Harvest Command automation adapts to less experienced operators can more quickly achieve work for you. Each automation mode prioritizes different productivity comparable with experienced operators. harvesting outcomes selected by the operator from grain quality to grain savings to throughput. It’s simple. You AFS Harvest Command automation supports Highchoose the mode of operation to match your harvesting Efficiency Farming and gives you more time to optimize goals and set the crop type, maximum operating speed your harvest. Talk to Central Illinois Ag about how you and power limits. AFS Harvest Command automation can harvest at peak efficiency with the new AFS Harvest takes it from there. Find the perfect mode of operation Command combine automation system. to match your harvesting goals:

Fit for your harvesting needs

27 ¡ Central Illinois Ag ¡ www.centralilag.com

Steve and Ann Marie Irwin

J&M Manufacturing Co., Inc. 284 Railroad Street • Fort Recovery, Ohio • 45846 • (419) 375-2376 • fax: (419) 375-2708 • sales@jm-inc.com • www.jm-inc.com

www.centralilag.com · Volume 8 Issue 1 28

New Horizons Concrete N

Takeuchi Loyal

ew Horizons Concrete was started by Russ Wiegand in 2015. In the past, Russ had done some construction work around central Illinois and then began helping his cousin, who did concrete work on the side. After learning the job through his cousin, Russ decided to begin his own business in the concrete industry.

central Illinois, Russ says that they have been starting to do more work for farmers around the area too, such as machine shed flooring. Their hope is to steer their business to more local, agriculture-related jobs in the future.

No matter what jobsite they are working on, it is important to Russ that they have reliable equipment to Today, New Horizons Concrete is located in Goodfield, use to get the job done. In the past, when he was doing Illinois, and is a proud family-owned and operated construction work on the side, he would run a Takeuchi business. Russ’s mother, Pam Wiegand, works in the 130. Then, when he started New Horizons Concrete, office and is essential to the organization and record- he began using another brand of skid steer. He ended keeping aspects of the business, while Russ and his up having issues with the machine and remembered seven employees, most of which are also his relatives, back to how much he enjoyed running the Takeuchi, do the hands-on work on the jobsite. so he met with Steve Schmidt at Central Illinois Ag to purchase a TL8 and has been a returning Takeuchi The majority of their work is residential, with a small customer ever since. portion being commercial projects. Being located in

29 ¡ Central Illinois Ag ¡ www.centralilag.com

Russ and his crew now have two Takeuchi TL8s that they use each day for building up dirt alongside the concrete, grade work, and transporting concrete to fill smaller areas with a hopper attachment.

After running Takeuchi equipment for the past few years, Russ has seen many different features that make the machines stand out in comparison to other brands.

One of his favorites is the functionality and comfort of the cab. He says that the visibility from inside the cab is outstanding and aids in maneuverability of the machine. Additionally, the roll up door makes it easier for he and his crew to get in and out of the cab without the door getting in the way and slowing them down.

Russ also pointed out that he likes the ease of use of the compact TL8, being straightforward and simple to operate. When it comes to service work, the Takeuchis are also much simpler to work on according to Russ.

Whether he is changing the oil or tightening tracks, servicing the machine is no problem.

The overall stability and durability of Takeuchi track loaders is what has drawn Russ to the brand. “These machines should sell themselves,� says Russ. They are built to last and hold their value through the years, and Russ is looking forward to continuing to be a Takeuchi customer down the road.

www.centralilag.com ¡ Volume 8 Issue 1 30

®

From World First to World Leader

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY

WORLD LEADER

OF A

31 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

OUR TAGLINE SAYS IT ALL

bushhog.com

APPAREL AND MERCHANDISE

www.centralilag.com · Volume 8 Issue 1 32

Farmers Feeding

America

R

Central Illinois

Local Foods Spotlight

andy and Doug Fornoff have been farming for nearly 40 years in Mason County. Growing up, there was plenty of work for the family with dairy cows, pigs, and chickens to take care of. “I guess that’s why Mom and Dad had five boys and one girl,” said Randy. “They needed the help!” Randy and Doug are the youngest in the family so it worked out that they would have the opportunity to take over the farm as their father retired. “Dad always had mostly International Harvester equipment so it was just natural that we would carry on the tradition,” Randy continues. “We still use the model 300 tractor that Dad bought new in 1956.”

Their farm is located near Havana, Illinois along the Illinois River and much of it is on sandy soils.

The Mahomet Aquifer supplies the water needed for irrigation. Over 80% of their farmland is irrigated with center-pivot irrigations, which makes it possible for them to raise specialty crops. They grow corn, soybeans, popcorn, and green beans and in past years, have produced sweet corn and peas.

“We started growing popcorn in the mid 1980s for several different companies. It was a way to diversify our operation and required no additional investment,” says Randy. “It has been a learning curve. It took a few years to understand the best plant populations and fertility needs. Since it is a non-GMO crop, we use a different herbicide and insecticide program.”

Popcorn makes up about one third of their total acres and each year they produce on average about six million pounds of popcorn. “Planting popcorn is no different than planting corn,” says Randy. “We just need to make sure that the planter and seed tender are completely clean of field corn.” They use a 24 row Case-IH 1250 planter that, with the help of Central Illinois Ag, they recently converted to Precision Planting equipment, including EDrive and ESet meters and DeltaForce automatic down force control. “The planter does an excellent job. We have been very happy with the results,” says Randy. The popcorn is planted at around 28,000 – 32,000 population on irrigated sands.

33 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

They harvest popcorn with a Case-IH 7240 series combine with a 12-row Geringhoff corn head. “The combine, grain cart, and trucks need to be completely clean of field corn and soybeans,” said Doug. “Combine settings are a little different so that we can make sure that we don’t damage the kernels of corn.”

“Case-IH combines usually have the edge on quality of grain as compared to other brands. When it is set right, our combine does an excellent job with grain quality,” Randy says. Popcorn is typically their first crop to harvest as it is normally ready around the first to middle of September. It needs to be harvested at a moisture between 15-17%. The wetter the corn is, the more damage occurs during harvest. The quality is very important as it affects the popping ability of the corn.

a couple of years and then when processed sweet corn became a growing commodity in our area, several companies were also looking for people to contract green bean and pea acres, so we gave them a try for a number of years,” says Randy. Although commercial production of sweet corn has diminished and peas are no longer grown in Mason County, they continue to contract one to two crops of green beans a year with DelMonte Foods.

Raising green beans can at times be risky and challenging, but it has been rewarding to them to diversify their operation. Too much rain, a really hot July, a hail storm, or an early frost can reduce yields in a hurry. They plant green beans with their 1250 Case-IH planter. They apply the same starter as they do with corn, use a basic herbicide program, and cultivate them several times.

Nitrogen is also applied through irrigation. Since green Their popcorn is contracted with Weaver Popcorn and beans are a short season crop, they can produce two is delivered to their facility in Forest City, Illinois. At the crops. plant, which has about 136 million pounds of storage capacity, the corn is kept at constant moisture until it is Green beans are harvested by the company in July and processed. Processing the popcorn involves passing it October with specialized equipment, then shipped to through screens and sieves and sorting machines that processing plants in Wisconsin. Raising green beans eliminate damaged and unwanted kernels. in Mason County allows companies to run processing plants in Wisconsin for a longer period of time. On Customers of Weaver include WalMart, Sams Club, average they produce about four to five tons of green AMC Theaters, and Kroger, to name a few. They also beans per acre. export to many countries overseas and supply popcorn for the Boy Scouts. “There is a good feeling knowing “The importance of safe, good quality food becomes that your corn is part of the brand that supplies the Boy reality when you see your product on the store shelves Scouts of America annual fundraiser and that people and in the bags of popcorn people are eating,” says Randy. are eating some of our corn as they watch a movie in an “There is a sense of pride in producing a vegetable and AMC theater as well,” says Randy. a snack food that is enjoyed by so many consumers. It makes the statement ‘Farmers Feeding America’ seem With the ability to irrigate, vegetables have also been so real to us.” a part of their operation. “Dad raised cucumbers for

www.centralilag.com · Volume 8 Issue 1 34

Central Illinois

Local Foods Spotlight

tyson Farms O

ver the past few years, Tyson Farms of Chestnut, Illinois has grown to be a successful local beef operation. The Tyson family saw raising cattle as an opportunity to educate themselves and others on where their food comes from, but did not expect it to turn into the growing business and rewarding lifestyle that it has become.

following his passions.

One of his unexpected passions started a few years ago and has taken off. In 2014, the Tysons bought their first farm and moved to the country. Shortly after, Shaun’s wife, Kim, had the idea of getting a cow to raise, out of curiosity of where their meat comes from. Shaun was immediately on board with the idea and thought it Shaun Tyson grew up with no direct ag background, but would be an excellent opportunity to teach his children, always lived in the country and was exposed to farming Cullen and Piper, the responsibility and work ethic that around the area. It wasn’t until his friends suggested comes along with raising livestock. that he joined FFA in high school that he was fully introduced to agriculture and the opportunities within In 2015 they bought and raised their first cow with the the industry. help of Shaun’s friend and local beef producer, Aaron Wilham, and ended up selling the beef to friends in the He initially went to school to become a history and PE area. The next year, the Tysons expanded to raise three teacher and began living and working on a horse farm head and have since doubled their herd every year after as well as a cattle farm throughout college. He ultimately that. In 2020, they raised 30 head and plan to raise 60 in decided to change his major to agribusiness at Lincoln 2021 to meet their growing demand for local beef.

Land Community College.

With the help of their neighbors and friends in the Since then, Shaun has had various jobs around central industry, the Tyson family has taken pride in learning llinois in agriculture sales and owns his own agronomy how to produce the high-quality beef that their consulting business. However, he acknowledges that customers seek out. They market their cattle at 14 to 18 he probably would not be where he is today if it wasn’t months of age and get their meat processed at Magros, for his friend and mentor, Larry Huelskoetter. Larry a USDA facility in Springfield, Illinois. All of their beef was very influential in Shaun’s life and always believed stays within the state and is sold direct to consumer. in him when he was starting out in the industry and Their meat is also Beef Quality Assurance certified,

35 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

which reassures consumers of the quality of the product as well as the ethical treatment of the cattle.

In a time where customers are asking more questions about the products they purchase, it is important to Shaun to be open and transparent with his customers.

“It helps if all of us producers could have one voice in how we approach the market,” says Shaun. “We need to have these conversations and be better educators to help bridge the gap between producers and consumers.”

Shaun says that when consumers have a greater understanding of what goes into raising the quality of beef that they want, it is easier to justify the price compared to cheaper fast food or lower grade meat found in the store. Being willing to have conversations about feeding practices, antibiotic use, treatment of livestock, and more helps to build consumers’ confidence and also creates relationships between Shaun and his customers, which mean a lot to him.

Cullen, Shaun, Kim, and Piper Tyson

relationships within their community because of it has been a blessing to the Tyson family. “Being part of a farming community is extremely rewarding,” says Shaun. “Being able to count on your neighbor is one of the best things about this. All the people I have met in Consumer confidence in local foods was a major the industry have helped me along the way.” topic that was put to the test in 2020, considering the processing issues that came as a result of COVID-19. This lifestyle that they have taken on has also been Earlier last year, Shaun had only planned on raising 15 rewarding for their kids, Cullen and Piper. Shaun knew to 20 head, but once COVID-19 hit mid-March, phone after working in the agriculture industry for so long, that calls began coming in about purchasing his beef. With he wanted his children to grow up around farming and the increase in demand that he only expected to rise, learn the work ethic and responsibility that comes with it. “There are a lot of experiences and opportunities on they increased their herd to 30 head. a farm that other kids never get exposed to,” says Shaun.

In no time, they had sold all their meat and were booked “The kids are an integral part of this; I wanted to be able out until March 2021, and even had appointments to teach them how to own and operate a business like already set into 2022. They have been amazed at how this.” much the pandemic has impacted the demand for their products but are grateful for the awareness that The Tysons are grateful to have had the opportunity to become first-generation producers and hope to keep COVID-19 has brought towards local producers. the farm in the family to provide for their customers for years to come.

Being able to work in local foods and build stronger

www.centralilag.com · Volume 8 Issue 1 36

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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ERTL TOYS, CONTACT US OR VISIT WWW.PARTSTORE.CASEIH.COM 37

Central Illinois Ag www.centralilag.com

www.centralilag.com · Volume 8 Issue 1 37

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www.centralilag.com · Volume 8 Issue 1 38

PRECISION IS PERSONAL

The Meaning of a Family Farm “Working on a family farm means everything to me; I would not be farming if it wasn’t with my family. We face challenges each day between the weather and grain prices, but being with family makes it all worth it. I cannot imagine doing anything else.” - Linda Garlisch

“My great-great Grandfather came here from Ireland and started farming in 1850. They were brave to come here and live off the land which must have been tough coming from another country, so I appreciate what they did for my sons, grandsons, and I to be able to farm today. My neighbors who farm that I’ve known my whole life are also like family. We’ve got a great farming “Being a part of a family farm means working together community around here that have become some of my towards the goal of success, that will become the goal best friends.”

– Tim Folkes of the next generation. Success is not simply financial success, but success is a measurement of how we share our family’s joys and burdens with one another.”

“I saw this farm as an opportune moment to let my

- Randy Fornoff children enjoy what I did as a kid growing up in the country. I saw how my customers in the industry were raising their kids with such great work ethic, and I “It’s tradition. My Grandpa farmed from the 1930s to wanted that for mine. There are a lot of experiences 1970s and then my dad started from scratch and began and opportunities on a farm that other kids never get farming on his own as well. It gives me a sense of pride exposed to.”

- Shaun Tyson being able to live on and continue what my dad started and worked his whole life for.”

- Robert Lowers “A family farm is much more than just the family business. It is the connection we feel with the land and “I never thought my son, Corey, and I would farm our people who came before us”. together, so I am grateful that today we are able to work

- Connie and Tom Hieronymus so well together and that he is going to take over the farm someday and keep it going for the next generation.”

- Gene Hassebrock

39

Central Illinois Ag www.centralilag.com

www.centralilag.com · Volume 8 Issue 1 39

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Safe. Go. Go. www.centralilag.com · Volume 8 Issue 1 40

photo Gallery

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200 Sharon Street Atlanta, IL 61723

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