7 minute read
LIFE IS A RACE, RUN IT WITH ENDURANCE
By Olivia Hoots
There is something about a northern Illinois drive that makes one appreciate wide open spaces and expansive farm landscapes. Driving north on I-39 and then onto US Highway 52 will get you through Dixon and into Polo. Somewhere in the green hills and prairie in between sits the homestead of Lyle and Sheryl Hopkins. Folks in the Illinois beef industry know them both as past IBA presidents, Lyle in 1988 and Sheryl the first woman in ’02 and ’03. Yet, they were driving around Illinois for years prior on behalf of Illinois producers like themselves. The effort the Hopkins put into life reflects their focus on family and the betterment of the agriculture industry, a lifestyle they lead for their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Back in the “olden days,” before the association was called the Illinois Beef Association, beef producers supported the Illinois Livestock Association – prior to that it was the Cornbelt Livestock Feeders Association and the Illinois Livestock Feeders Association – and the Beef Checkoff supported the Illinois Beef Industry Council. Back then only men were involved in these organizations so there was also the Illinois Cattle Women, or Illinois Beef Auxiliary –originally the cowbells – which did the promoting of beef on behalf of the associations. In 1995, the association became what it is today, merging all three organizations into one. Of course, after the merger, Sheryl got to have her turn as president like her husband.
Both Lyle and Sheryl have served the organizations since the early seventies and have been more influential than today’s producers realize. Did you know Lyle played a significant role in getting the Beef Checkoff to be $1.00? This is one of many examples of the influential role of the Hopkins in the industry.
The Making of a Leader
The truth is some producers today do not feel the need to serve the way Lyle and Sheryl have. They themselves are concerned about the lack of leadership in the upcoming generation – maybe it is the artificial community felt through technology, or just never learning the importance of service at an early age like they did, they wonder.
Sheryl’s life philosophy is focused on hard work and family, and it was at an early age that Lyle learned the importance of these things, especially when it comes to service to one’s own community.
In the early twenties Lyle’s grandparents moved up into northern Illinois, where his dad saw the need to start a dairy during The Great Depression after someone in his town asked, “You wouldn’t happen to have any cream would you?” By the 1940s, the Hopkins were fully into the dairy business. Lyle recalls growing up milking the cows and driving a tractor for his neighbors since he was ten years old.
When it was his turn to run an operation, Lyle and his brother put a down payment on some land and bought equipment with money from their dad. Later, in 1974, their cousin, Leo Patterson, wanted to rent his 240-acre farm which included an 80-acre pasture to Lyle, and that is how they got into beef cows. “We have only been farming that farm for 49 years,” he says amusingly. And it is right next to the farm his great grandmother homesteaded.
Lyle and Sheryl were married after high school in 1965 and will have been married for 59 years this summer. “The reason I got married was my brother was a lousy cook and she was a real good cook,” Lyle jokes.
Before this, in the fall of 1965, Lyle’s brother was drafted into the United States Air Force. The next year, Lyle was about to be drafted, but President Johnson sent out a marriage deferment law that applied to Lyle’s own time of marriage. Though a bit discouraged he could not follow in the footsteps of his brother, he took to community service work on the county board, township board, and eventually gave much of his time to the Illinois Beef Association after being encouraged during his time serving the Ogle County beef affiliate. “I figured I would do my time that way.”
From conventions to policy change to friendships, the Hopkins made strides together in the Illinois beef industry, and it had the same effect on them too. They recall happy times with their “Association friends” such as, Dan and Kathy Koons, Roger and Karen Houston, Dave and Carol Bateman, Ray and Jeri Nieman, who did all the association work from home in the seventies, the first IBA EVP John Butler, IBA EVP Tim O’Connor, then IBA EVP Maralee Johnson, who Sheryl went to many meetings with.
Learning the Right Lessons
Through their time in service to various organizations, and especially through their on-farm experiences, the Hopkins understand that in this industry, “sometimes things fall apart even if you have not made a mistake, health problems come up in livestock, markets go up and down, but you learn a lot of lessons,” Lyle says.
In all the various challenges, whether it was operating Sheryl’s parents’ auction business, distress in the ‘eighties or their house fire just a few years ago, they cling to what is certain – their love for their family and their farm.
Lyle enjoys taking care of the cattle. Sheryl’s favorite part is the signs of spring, calves galloping across the lush green grass and crops budding up – both showing signs of new and vibrant life.
It is things like this that keep them young. Lyle recently told his physical therapist “If I can chase a calf through the mud and catch him and hold him between my legs and feed him a bottle, I think I am pretty well back in shape,” something he really did just days before the appointment.
The Need for People
With a legacy of four children, eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren – who are the seventh generation to go to the same little church on the corner, just up the road from where Lyle and Sheryl live – the Hopkins are giving all they have to leave the most important life lessons behind for their family and community. They even have a son-in-law, Justin Rahn, and granddaughter, Anna Flikkema, currently serving on the IBA Board of governors.
For them, that starts with service – something they hope will be reawakened in the hearts of the upcoming generations.
In their own local cattlemen’s affiliate, they have had a couple younger producers as president and vice president, and they seek out other members to help at their county fair food stand, but Sheryl says it is often like pulling teeth.
Yet, the Hopkins have long been committed to the furtherance of their affiliate organization, the Illinois Beef Association and other organizations like them. “Somebody has got to continue the tradition to make sure some idiot does not pass something we cannot live with,” Lyle says.
Sheryl agrees, adding, “and we are promoting our product, which is what it is all about,” she says. “I do not think the younger generation can see that because their mother and dad always did it.” Our associations need younger people carrying the torch their parents before them lit.
“We did for others what maybe we should have been doing for ourselves, but that was not important, it was the other people who were important to us,” Sheryl says. “The younger generation totally live different than we used to.” She recalls scraping buy and saving as much as possible, and starting with nothing, and even moments where they had nothing again – especially in the eighties when it was tough for everyone.
“We never gave up,” Lyle says. “We had a lot of help.”
For many people, they have been that help. The effort they put into life reflects their focus on family and the betterment of the agriculture industry. Not only have they created a legacy farming operation, but have taught and are teaching their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren how to leave one too.
