Small Town Living West - Fall/Winter 2020

DEER GROVE, ERIE, FENTON, LYNDON, MORRISON, PROPHETSTOWN, TAMPICO A

PUBLICATION • FALL/WINTER 2020

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Morrison barber has been going along at quite a clip since opening Art turns a corner in the Sauk Valley Customers can get a Square deal on farm-fresh goods Customers enjoy a taste of Morrison restaurant’s Original recipes

inside

FALL/WINTER 2020

CONTENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Publisher Don T. Bricker

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General Manager/Ad Director Jennifer Heintzelman Magazine editor & Page design Rusty Schrader Published by Sauk Valley Media 113 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon, IL 61021 815-284-2222

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Creature comfort

Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of Small Town Living Magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, Sauk Valley Media cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Sauk Valley Media cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.

Every animal has a story to tell, and a Tampico couple wants to make sure those stories have a happy ending, by providing a safe haven for all creatures great and small

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inside 4 CONTENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Resident Approved

Hair to stay

An Iowa man set up shop in Morrison, where’s been going along at quite a clip — and now that he’s here, he wouldn’t dream of leaving.

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Art tour It looks like art is turning a corner — in fact, it’s turning quite a few corners on a road trip through the Sauk Valley.

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1, 2, 3, grow A trio of partners in produce are experts in their field, and they’ve come up with a way to offer a Square deal on farm-fresh goods.

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Originality Restaurant owner with an appetite for success went from Mexico to Main Street, working his way up from washing dishes to serving his own.

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Ben Witt, owner of Ben’s Barber Shop in Morrison.

HE’S Y A T S TO p in Morrison, where’sd

sho — an p u d t e e n s e p o t o cided ce he e n i d s ing n v p i a a l e c m l a f a o w e t o i I m u An ’t drea g at q n n d o l l u a o g w n i e o ere, h h been g ’s e h t a now th 4

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STORY SARAH FORD PHOTOS ALEX T. PASCHAL | FOR SMALL TOWN LIVING

ife as a barber has been challenging lately – with a pandemic cutting into barbers’ bottom line – but those in the profession are still eager to do what they do best: get behind their chair and take care of people’s hair.

The owner of the only barber shop in Morrison is no different.

For Ben Witt, owner of Ben’s Barbershop at 205 E. Main St., being able to reopen has been a welcome change from the vacation he was forced to take while the state-ordered lockdown was in effect. But now it’s back to business – though not as usual, but at least enough to feel a rebound and put a little extra spring in Witt’s step.

Witt, 32, reopened May 29 after nearly 3 months of the state lockdown, but only by appointment – and his shaggy-haired clientele couldn’t wait to have him take a little off the sides.

He had a flurry of customers the first few weeks, people who hadn’t been able to get a haircut after pandemic put a hold on businesses across the state. He’s had to adjust how he does business, taking care to make sure everything’s cleaned and disinfected regularly.

But he’s just happy to be back in business.

Ben’s offers haircuts, hot lathers and a straight shave, and beard trims.

Continued on page 6

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Ben Witt went straight from barber school to owning his own shop, Ben’s Barbershop in Morrison, and he’s happy to be part of the community. “Morrison gives you all you need. It’s the benefit of a big town without the headache.”

Continued from page 5

While most of his returning customers have been on the younger side since he reopened, Witt is confident his older clients will eventually return once they feel more comfortable venturing out.

Ben’s offers haircuts, hot lathers and a straight shave, and beard trims.

Growing up in Clinton, Iowa, Ben hadn’t really thought of a career path that would take him into his own barbershop. He had a “couple stints” in community college, worked at IPSCO in Camanche before getting laid off, and eventually enrolled at Ray’z Barber School in Moline, where he graduated in 2016, opening his own shop the same year. He chose to practice his trade in Illinois, since it takes less time to get the state license than it does in Iowa.

He marked four years at his business in May; he was encouraged to

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give the town a try thanks to his uncle, Tim Rebelsky who works at a local car dealership.

Another change he was forced to make, but one that wasn’t all bad: his shop had been taking walk-ins only before the pandemic, but now it’s appointment only, and that’s just fine with Ben. in fact, he said he plans to keep on filling the appointment book.

“Barbering is what I want to do. I had to first convince my wife, but she finally took to it,” he laughs.

He’s not the only one in the family who’s sharpened his skills with hair. Barbering runs in the family – well, sort of, but it runs the other way for the Witts. Ben’s dad, Jeff, owns the Fulton Barbershop in nearby Fulton. He chose to follow in his son’s footsteps after deciding he wanted a job with a less stressful pace.

Photo on page 8, story continued on page 9

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Ben invites his older customers to pull up a chair – as for his younger clientele, they can pull up a ‌ tractor. Ben converted an old pedal tractor into a barber chair for the kids. The tractor was one Ben rode on as a kid at his grandparents’ house.

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Continued from page 8

Ben’s shop is a pleasing mix of sports décor and nods to the past. He has an antique National cash register given to him by his parents after he graduated from barber school. A barber pole is mounted out front, giving the shop a nostalgic vibe, and a retro radio sits on the counter. Bears and Cubs memorabilia adorn the walls, as well as Morrison Mustang gear. For those waiting for a haircut, he has a row of seats salvaged from an old theater in Platteville, Wisconsin, which he found through Craigslist.

For the little shavers, Ben’s has a barber chair that’s just the right speed: It’s an old push pedal tractor given to him by his grandparents that he’s retrofitted as a barber chair.

Ben and his wife, Jenny, are the parents of Kennedy, 11, Hadley, 5, and Oliver or “Ollie,” 2, and the family lives in Clinton, Iowa, where Ben was born and raised. Like countless other people, Ben found himself with extra time on his hands when the pandemic forced him to put down the clippers. He kept busy, though, spending time with the family, doing some house repairs, painting, yard work, even putting in a patio.

He said Morrison has been an ideal location for his shop. He likes the small-town atmosphere and close-knit community, and with his shop located downtown, there’s always activity.

“Morrison gives you all you need. It’s the benefit of a big town without the headache,” he said. Like any small-town business owner, Ben gets to know his neighbors – and one of them he knows especially well: his twin brother, Brian, who Ben helped connect with a job at the law office down the street.

Ben knew there was an opening at Holesinger Law Office, and his brother had just earned his law degree and was looking to find a practice he could join, so Ben encouraged him to look into it and he got the job. Before long, that job became a partnership in the law office, which is now Holesinger-Witt Law Offices.

Friends, family, loyal customers — as far as Ben’s concerned, they put Morrison a cut above other cities, and he’s happy he’s found a place his business can call home.

“I wouldn’t dream of leaving now – it’s too cool,” he said. n

MORE INFO Ben’s Barbershop 205 E. Main St., Morrison | 563-321-2685 Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday;closed Sundays and Wednesdays.

Online: Follow Ben’s Barbershop on Instagram or Facebook, where you also can book an appointment.

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Curt Jett and Kat Pence own and operate Monkey’s Place, an animal rescue and sanctuary in rural Tampico that provides a safe haven for animals, from bird to cows and just about anything in between. “It’s a labor of love,” Jett said. “We want them to feel like they have a life here. We don’t want anyone to feel like they’re locked into a situation where they’re in a kennel situation.”

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costvoerr y STORY CODY CUT TER

hether it’s a bark, a moo or a meow, every animal has a voice, and a local couple is making sure those voices are heard.

Curt Jett and Kat Pence are on a mission to give animals in need a safe place to call home at their non-profit animal rescue and sanctuary, Monkey’s Place, and in the process show that animals and people aren’t all that different.

But most importantly, they make sure every animal that walks, trots, gallops or hops through their barn doors gets to live.

The animals that roam around the Monkey’s Place have a story to tell, and the Pences are here to listen to those stories, giving their furry friends some peace of mind and freeing them from the doubts or fears they may have.

PH OT OS

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Continued on page 13

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Continued from page 11

Monkey’s Place provides a place for animals that may have been destined for rejection, or even death, giving them hope for a longer life.

“It’s a labor of love,” Jett said. “We want them to feel like they have a life here. We don’t want anyone to feel like they’re locked into a situation where they’re in a kennel situation.”

Don’t let the name fool you; there are no actual monkeys on the farm – it’s named after the couple’s 8-year-old rottweiler-lab mix, Monkey – but the farm is home to plenty of other creatures great and small: nearly 50 dogs, cats, horses, pigs, cows, llamas, alpacas, rabbits and chickens spread out across 5 acres.

“Every animal here has some sort of story,” Jett said.

After the dogs roam around for the day, they are put in their own individual quarters in one of the barns with bedding and food.

Up to six dogs can be placed at a time.

The emphasis on the farm is more of a sanctuary, as opposed to a regular shelter. The couple are called upon by people who are in special situations. One woman in Chicago had a 110pound German Shepherd that needed a home when she became a victim of domestic violence. Jett and Pence had the dog for a little more than a year, but it took the dog awhile to get used to Jett. Having seen firsthand the worst of men’s behavior, the dog developed a disliking to them.

You would think with a name like Monkey’s Place, you might see a simian at the sanctuary. Not likely, but you will find one Monkey there: the 8-year-old rottweiler-lab mix that the sanctuary was named after. Here, Kat plays with Monkey.

Continued on page 14

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The gate may read “Monkey’s Place,” but it’s also a hog’s place and a dog’s place, a cat’s place and a miniature donkey’s place – and a place where animals can get some peace of mind. “Every other hour that we have available, we’ll give to the animals,” said Curt Jett (at left, tending to Cheech).

“The biggest satisfaction is that they more than likely wouldn’t be walking on this planet if we hadn’t stepped in.”

Continued from page 13

“He hated men, because he witnessed everything that had gone on in the house,” Jett said. “For the first 3 weeks, I couldn’t go anywhere near that German Shepherd; he was just ready to kill me.”

With enough time away from what had been home, and some TLC to win it over, Jett got the dog to be a more accepting to men.

“He was my best bud. He did chores with me, walked around the farm.”

Another dog, a wiener dog named Frank, was rescued from potential euthanasia from Texas.

“I saw him on an ad somewhere, he was going to be euthanized and was only 8 weeks old,” Pence said. “I can’t let this happen.”

The couple still have Frank.

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Among the cats the farm had recently, one of them was pregnant and another needed surgery done on an eye. The couple trusts plenty of veterinarians from around the area to come check on them when they are sick.

The farm is not a drop-off place for unwanted animals – a point that the couple can’t stress enough. In fact, they don’t want the farm to get so big that they won’t be able to operate it, so they sometimes have to set limits on the number of certain animals in order to keep their operation going – making recommendations to similar places if the need arises.

“I don’t want it to be a farm setting where it’s just a kennel where you’re locked in and fed water and that’s it,” Jett said. “We want to make sure we don’t get too big to where we can’t handle what we have.”

Continued on page 15

Continued from page 14

“It’s a labor of love, and is a passion that’s not for everybody,” Jett said. “There’s a lot of sacrifices that make this happen, but there’s nothing better than going home and throwing a ball with a dog or have a horse put his head under your shoulder – all the weight of the world just rolls off.”

The couple, married for more than 30 years, grew up with animals in Iowa, and Kat drove animal transports for more than 20 years. They moved where their jobs sent them, and 7 years ago landed in rural Tampico.

When a pair of donkeys and alpacas needed a home, Pence thought, after considering the space they had on the farm, ‘Why not?’ One donkey, Cheech, and a llama, Rocky, were the farm’s first animals – after its namesake dog, of course.

“We had all of this room. After that, it just kind of started.”

They’ve had a cow, LuLu, for about 2 years, and she will soon head to a new home in Maine, where there is a similar sanctuary with more cows of her type.

“It’ll be good for LuLu,” Curt said. “We’ll miss her to death, but she’ll have a buddy.”

Like cows, not all livestock is meant for slaughter, but can be enjoyed as pets. They’ve got mini- and full-sized pigs as well.

“Someone saved them from slaughter when they were [small] in their garage, thinking they were going to save them,” Jett said. “Then they started getting big. They needed out, and we happened to be the ones.

“When they come here, it’s a safe harbor,” he said.

Jett works in Davenport and Pence works from home, so both get to work with the animals each day. Along with tending to the animals, their work also includes rounding up food and supplies for their animals, all out of their own pocket. Every now and again a donor will come forward to help them.

They also sometimes turn to other sources for help, like the recent GoFund Me page for Popeye, the cat who needed eye surgery.

The couple love their lives on the farm, and want to make sure that the lives of their animals are just as special.

“Every other hour that we have available, we’ll give to the animals,” Jett said. “The biggest satisfaction is that they more than likely wouldn’t be walking on this planet if we hadn’t stepped in.” n

Community is More than Part of Our Name • Community Involvement • Community Support • Community Growth

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Find Monkey Farm Animal Rescue and Sanctuary on Facebook or call 319-325-1215 for more information, directions to the farm or to find out how to donate the farm.

No drop-offs of unwanted animals are accepted.

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It looks like art is turning a corner —

in fact, it’s turning quite a few corners on a road trip through the Sauk Valley

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STORY BY SMALL TOWN LIVING STAFF | PHOTOS BY ALEX T. PASCHAL

rt has been a driving force in Valerie Butcher’s life for years, and she’s hoping others will feel the same way, too.

Butcher, a local artist and the coordinator of the Corner Gallery in Sterling, has put together a self-guided tour that highlights Sauk Valley residents’ creative side: Art Along the Rock.

The tour features five stops: The Loft, 112 E. Main St. in Morrison; Art in the Park in the RB&W Park along the Rock Falls riverfront, Primitive Frills, 7 E. Third St. in Sterling, the Corner Gallery, 2522 E. Lincolnway in Sterling, and the Next Picture Show Fine Arts Center, 113 W. First St. in Dixon.

The art lover’s day trip is just the latest stop on her artistic journey.

Butcher was a painter for years, but turned to sculpting when her eyesight began to fade. She and her husband, Clarence, have works on display at the Corner Gallery.

She said she’d been trying to get an art tour going for sometime, but kept running into roadblocks, so a year ago she figured she would just try to get it started herself.

"I decided a long time ago that the only way we're really going to make it is for all of the artists along the Rock River to stick together," Butcher said.

She's also working on a show to celebrate Latin American art.

"That hasn't been done in a gallery, and I think they're an important part of our community and we need to promote their art," she said. "It's beautiful."

So, if you’re looking for some local art that really rocks, check out the stops along Butcher’s tour on the following pages ... s m a l l

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E

veryone wants their own little corner of the world where their work will be appreciated.

Local artists have found theirs at a gallery in Sterling.

Earlier this year, The Corner Gallery headed east to a new home at 2522 E. Lincolnway, after owner Larry Gaskill sold the gallery’s previous home, which shared space with his insurance office at 202 Fourth Ave. The office/gallery is now located in the strip mall spot previously occupied

by Prescott’s TV and Satellite, where artists are the ones now hoping for a good reception.

The photographer and business owner runs Larry Gaskill Insurance and the gallery. Gaskill said he’s hoping the new higher-traffic home will bring more people to the gallery, which features works in various mediums: painting, photos, jewelry, glassware and more. Pieces range in price from under $50 to over $200.

corner gallery STERLING

Continued on page 19

Valerie Butcher talks about the process used to create her glass art at the Corner Gallery in Sterling. Butcher spearheaded the effort to organize the first Art on the Rock art tour in the Sauk Valley. She’s excited about the art trail and hopes to be able to expand it throughout Illinois and even into Wisconsin. She’d been trying to get an art tour going for sometime, but kept running into roadblocks, so a year ago she figured she would just try to get it started herself. “The only way we’re really going to make it is for all of the artists along the Rock River to stick together,” she said.

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A DIVISION OF ROCK RIVER LUMBER AND GRAIN Sterling 2707 W. Lincolnway 815-625-7240

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The Corner Gallery, at 2522 E.Lincolnway in Sterling, features works from local artists in various mediums: painting, photos, jewelry, glassware and more.

Continued from page 18

MOREINFO Corner Gallery, 2522 E. Lincolnway, Suite E, Sterling Hours: 1 to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Online: Find The Corner Gallery on Facebook

He plans to expand the gallery’s offerings through exhibits of art for sale throughout the community. Businesses that want to display works would get up to four pieces, and proceeds would go toward advancing the arts in the community.

Gallery coordinator Valerie Butcher has big plans for her small space.

The gallery also has special exhibits throughout the year of Latin American art, and works from Whiteside County 4-H Club members, and Butcher said earlier this year that she’s looking to add more artists to the roster.

“I’m very excited with what we’re going to do.” n

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The Loft is located at 112 E. Main St. in Morrison, in a renovated 1800s building.

MOREINFO

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ocated downtown at 112 E. Main St. in Morrison, in a renovated 1800s building, The Loft has become a hub of artistic activity for local artists since it opened in 2017.

The gallery provides a place where artists can sell their works, it hosts exhibits, and it provides a location for Woodlawn Arts Academy to offer art classes for kids as well as private voice and music lessons.

It’s come a long way from its early days – becoming a thriving member of the downtown and artistic communities – but that’s no surprise when you consider the lofty goals organizers set when they opened it. They wanted to create a regional arts destination that would provide a venue for local artists to create, promote and sell original art, and to foster art education through lessons and programs, which is just what they did – and their work hasn’t gone unnoticed.

The Loft earned a Governor’s Hometown Award in 2018. The award is given annually to projects sponsored by local government but brought to fruition by strong volunteer support.

The gallery even set up a non-profit organization to oversee operations.

What started as an empty building with eight artists is now full of potential, where today’s artists have found a home and tomorrow’s talent can learn how to hone their creative muscles. n

the loft

The Loft, 112 E. Main St., Morrison | 815-772-4005 Online: loft112morrison.org and on Facebook Hours: 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Thursday,: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday

MORRISON

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From wood to watercolors and more, The Loft offers art in a wide range of mediums and prices.

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rt is in the air in Rock Falls.

Just head downtown to the riverfront and you can breathe it all in at RB&W District Park, where you’ll see several sculptures that make up the Art in the Park self-guided tour. Stroll through the park to see the works of art on a self-guided tour aimed at promoting art and provoking thought. The first group of pieces was installed in 2018 after Chicago artist Charles Yost organized the effort to turn the park into an outdoor art studio.

The goal is to have different artists display their work on a rotating basis, with new pieces brought in for a year-long visit to the park. The first batch of art came mostly from Chicago artists, but organizers hope to feature more local artists. With each new installation, the city will hold what it describes as a “gala event of great music, fine wines, craft beers and gorgeous, thought-provoking art.”​ The next event is scheduled for 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. n

art in the park

ROCK FALLS

MOREINFO Art in the Park, 301 W. Second St., Rock Falls Go to visitrockfalls.com/new-page-2 for more information. To submit a sculpture for consideration, email travel@visitrockfalls. com or call 815-622-1106.

LEFT: “Life of Whimsy,”

by Stephanie Sailer.

ABOVE: “Drip Edge,” by Craig Snyder, is one of the sculptures on display at Art in the Park in the RB&W District Park in Rock Falls.

RIGHT: “Reaching for the Sun,” by Jennifer Meyer.

LEFT: “Point in Time,” by V. Skip Willits.

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LEFT: “Nemesis,”

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The Next Picture Show art center hosts classes, exhibits, receptions, concerts – just about anything that has to do with art.

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estled among its downtown neighbors in Dixon, a gallery/studio is the Next best thing about art.

Founded in 2004 by Ralph Edgar and his wife, Jane, The Next Picture Show is all about art: displaying it, celebrating it, selling it, teaching it, appreciating it – how great their art, indeed.

The non-profit arts center hosts classes, exhibits, receptions, concerts – just about anything that has to do with art. Its goal, according to its website, is to “nurture, develop, educate, foster the arts, and galvanize artists and patrons within the community.” Its exhibits and contests attract artists and audiences from throughout the Sauk Valley and beyond.

It hosts popular events such as the annual Nuts About Art, and the Really Affordable Art Exhibition – a show that lives up to the Next Pictures Show’smission of getting art in more people’s lives, and their homes, by featuring original works for $199 or less.

The fine arts center also sealed a deal in June to give it a home it can call its own, buying the building that’s housed the gallery for 16 years from Ralph Edgar Properties for $135,000, thanks in part to money raised during its Crossroads fundraising campaign.

“We greatly appreciate the many years of support from Ralph and Jane Edgar, and we also thank all of the generous people and organizations that contributed to our Crossroads campaign and made this purchase possible,” TNPS President David Bingaman said in a news release. n

the next picture show DIXON

MOREINFO The Next Picture Show – 113 W. First St., Dixon Contact: 815-285-4924 or nps@grics.net Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday, or by appointment Online: nextpictureshow. org and on Facebook

The Next Picture Show of Dixon is one of five stops on the Art on the Rock tour put together by local artist Valerie Butcher.

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rimitive Frills not only sells crafts, it teaches people how to create them.

Owner Sonia Vega Robinson opened her shop in 2016 at 10 E. Miller Road before finding a new home at 7 E. Third St. in downtown Sterling. The store specializes in items that are “handmade, homemade, upcycled and made with love,” according to its Facebook page.

Robinson has put together a team of crafters – her talented Primitive Frills family, as she calls them – whose works fill the shops’ shelves, along with decor in farmhouse, rustic, primitive and shabby chic styles, and antiques and vintage goods, too.

But there’s more than just crafts behind her the store’s doors. Primitive Frills has a workshop loft that’s a perfect spot for hosting classes.

Area artisans at several different experience levels come together for the workshops, and sessions often have specific themes; some based on specific materials or a different holidays and seasons.

Robinson has worked in the craft business for years, selling her work mainly through e-commerce channels. It was the teaching element and opportunities for more community involvement that attracted her to the idea of having her own storefront – a place where she could offer arts and crafts with all the frills. n

primitive frills STERLING

Primitive Frills owner Sonia Vega Robinson has put together a team of crafters – her talented Primitive Frills family, as she calls them – whose works fill the shops’ shelves, along with decor in farmhouse, rustic, primitive and shabby chic styles, and with antiques and vintage goods. More than just a store, Primitive Frills is also a gallery and a DIY studio.

MOREINFO Primitive Frills – 7 E. Third St., Sterling Contact: 815-716-6311 Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday Closed Monday and Sunday Online: primitivefrills.com and on Facebook

15273 Bishop Road Morrison, IL 61270 815-772-4024 fax 866-434-7043 www.bpicompanies.net SM-ST1798922

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SUCCESS GROWS

STORY SARAH FORD PHOTOS ALEX T. PASCHAL FOR SMALL TOWN LIVING

W

hen times call for innovation, necessity becomes the mother of invention – but necessity isn’t the only mom who’s helping a local farm cooperative grow. There are the moms who formed it, and then there are the moms who make it all possible: Mother Earth and Mother Nature.

The roots of Wild Hare Farmers were planted in 2007, but lately it’s grown into something more, thanks to a partnership that’s yielding great results for its growers.

The Erie-based business began life as an educational tool before evolving into a part-time, then full-time, business. Now, it’s branching out again, bringing farm-fresh produce, herbs and flowers to customers, and doing it in a COVID-19 world.

A trio of partners in produce are experts in ome c e ’v y e th d n a , ld e fi ir e th quare S a r e ff o to y a w a h it w up ds, deal on farm-fresh goo from food to flowers

Continued on page 26

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Continued from page 25

Wild Hare Farmers was started by Carla Jaquet in 2007 to teach her son, Corey – who has a genetic disorder that can make learning challenging – about the importance of farming. By 2016 it had become a full-time, yearround operation. It originally sold goods at the Morrison Farmers Market and did some sales online, but a pandemic uprooted everyone’s normal way of life, so it was time for a different approach to doing business.

That’s where the online selling platform Square Site came in, allowing Wild Hare to offer farm-to-door service – and now, the cooperative is get-

ting even more cooperation as Morrison-based Baar’s Potato Farm has joined Jaquet’s mission to bring healthy, homegrown food to people.

Billed on its Square Site as “an uncommon crew of farmers growing for the next generation,” the team consists of Jaquet, her daughter Chelsea Stuart, and Gwen Baar of Baar’s Potato Farm, who have teamed up in the wake of the recent pandemic to create something that they had been thinking about doing for a while, but only recently made a reality: a one-stop shop where people can purchase fresh-from-the-farm produce for pick-up or delivery – produce and preserves, flowers and herbs, even some baked goods.

Continued on page 27

Carla Jaquet points t out a plot of swee e ne “k s corn that wa of th ur fo e th high by en has July” and since th er ou shot up to sh ld m fa e th level on ily farm.

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Continued from page 26

Gwen The center of the operation is McKenna ar, and Steve Ba Farms in rural Erie, home to Carla’s parents, 18, 20 in re Gloria and Joe, where they grow everything shown he of ty rie va e id w from A to Z, apples to zucchini. Purchased grow a ar’s Ba , rm eir fa in 1962, the 188-acre farm is dedicated produce on th in on nt Fe ar ne mostly to traditional agriculture such as Potato Farm, siness bu e Th y. nt corn and soybeans, but the family has Whiteside Cou rmWild Hare Fa carved out about 1.6 acres for organic is part of the lls se ch hi e, w produce cultivated for farmers markets ers cooperativ s rb he e, uc and online sales. Here, heirloom tomatoes, farm-fresh prod scu to s er squash, pumpkins, peppers and more are all and flow tomers. lovingly tended to by Carla and her children, three of whom live in the area (son Jordan is stationed at Clovis Air Force base in New Mexico).

Jaquet is a firm believer in being a good steward of the Earth. She uses only natural, environmentally safe products in her gardens.

You won’t find a lot of livestock on the farm – guineas and peacocks are the only animals that call McKenna Farms home – but there are plenty of crops, all grown organically through sustainable agriculture methods, though they’re not certified organic. A high tunnel – similar to a greenhouse but simpler and less expensive – that can reach temperatures of 118 degrees during hot summer days is central to the tomato and pepper crop.

Other small gardens on the property yield beets, rhubarb, asparagus, bell peppers, and cucumbers. There is izing in heirloom pumpkins, such as Cinderella or Princess varieties, plus gourds, blue moon a nurturing aspect to the operations, with little waste, a squash, jack-o-lantern and pie pumpkins, and zucchini. recycling of nutrients into the soil, and plenty of bloom“Z is for zucchini bread!” he said with a smile recently as he checked on his crops. He takes ing flowers for the bugs and the bees. his earnings every year and invests in day trips during the off-season.

“Pollination – it all relies on Mother Nature,” Jaquet McKenna Farms is also home to an apple orchard. A few trees were recently added to the mix, said. while the original trees planted in 1962 – yellow transparent heirloom trees – yield fruit in July Since the farm’s early days, Corey has learned a lot that makes fantastic applesauce and apple butter. Jaquet’s son Ryne takes on the task of picking about farming and today he’s a dedicated grower, specialthe apples for each batch.

Chelsea has a 4-acre farm in Morrison, where she specializes in growing strawberries and bouquet flowers. As a former school teacher and mother of Millie, Zoe, and Ryker, Chelsea has been filling her time with days on the farm, teaching her children the value of farming through hands-on experience and taste-tests of all that a farm has to offer.

Baking is another value-added specialty offered by Wild Hare Farmers. With The high Illinois’ Cottage Laws giving farmers more opportunities to sell home-baked tunnel greenproducts, the women also can offer strawberry and raspberry jams, quick house can av bread, seasonal pies, carrot cakes, pickled beets, and chocolate beet cake erage about 118 de through their online inventory. grees on normal summ Over in Morrison, Steve Baar and his wife, Gwen, do business on Baar’s er days, and all that he Potato Farm, on land that Steve’s grandparents started farming after they at produces big emigrated to the U.S. from Holland in 1933. juicy tomatoes.

Photos on page 28, story continued on page 29

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OPERATION

ABOVE: Jaquet and her son Core y check on the prog ress of the pumpkin patc h. Corey’s got a keen eye for m aking sure the pumpkins come out looking good , and it’s one of his favorite jobs on the farm. Meanw hile, his brother, Ryne (left), harv ests apples from a tree plante d on the property more th an 50 years ago.

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Continued from page 27

“His grandfather came over on the boat through Ellis Island with a rake or a shovel,” Gwen said in a 2018 Sauk Valley Media profile of the farm. “They were broke, and started farming.”

Today, Baar’s Potato Farm grows a variety of plants and vegetables at the 100-acres family operation at 12712 Fenton Road, mostly potatoes, corn and beans, with about 10 acres set aside for a garden.

Steve’s mother, Neva, expanded the farm’s produce portfolio from the potatoes and cabbage it first specialized in to include asparagus, cauliflower, green onions, leaf lettuce, okra, peas, radishes, spinach, and tomatoes. The vegetables are Gwen’s specialty, and she likes them hand-picked.

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The pandemic has been a challenge for farmers this year, espeYou won’t find cially for market farmers who a lot of livesto ck rely on their weekly rounds on McKenna Farms to sell their products. But in rural Erie – just for these innovative farmers, some guinea s and their recently launched online peacocks purchasing model has been a successful swap. With a simple interface and attractive food photos, ordering farm-fresh food online is easy.

Now that the produce season is in full swing, they plan to offer a “farmer’s choice” selection, in addition to the individual items customers can add to their virtual carts. Jaquet said that so far the online ordering system has been popular with customers.

“Customers like the convenience,” she said, especially for those who may want to avoid farmers market crowds right now. Every Thursday, Jaquet and her team fill the orders and meet in Morrison to deliver the goods. They wear masks and gloves to ensure safety and to make customers feel comfortable.

Wild Hare Farmers tomatoes can also be found locally at Shaheen’s Market in Erie. After delivering more than a hundred pounds of tomatoes recently, they were surprised to have to restock so soon.

With attention on local food chains and hyperlocal community actions, the women of Wild Hare Farmers are helping reshape the local agricultural landscape.

“Be local, and appreciate what’s available in the community,” Jaquet said. n

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Wild Hare Farmers Contact: 309-2360281 or cjaquet@ wildharefarmers. com Online ordering is available at https:// wild-hare-farmers. square.site. Orders can be delivered for a fee, or picked up at 13390 Garden Plain Road, Morrison on Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m.

Find Wild Hare Farmers on Facebook Baar’s Potato Farm 12712 Fenton Road, Morrison 815-778-4483 Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday Online: Find Baar Potato Farm on Facebook

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ariginal Morrison

owner t n a r u a t s e r n w o t A down nt e w s s e c c u s r o f e it with an appet treet, S in a M o t o ic x e from M ashing w m o r f p u y a w is working h wn o is h g in v r e s o t s dishe

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T

STORY SARAH FORD PHOTOS ALEX T. PASCHAL | FOR SMALL TOWN LIVING

he menu at Original Taco may celebrate the flavors of Mexico, Gaeta is hoping for a return to something closer to normal – at least as norbut its owner’s story is all American. mal as it can get under the state-mandated guidelines.

Juan Gaeta came to the U.S. in 1977 from Zacatecas, Mexico, Juan said regulars have been returning, slowly but surely. settling in the Chicago suburbs, where he began working in the res“We’re still here. It’s hard, not easy sometimes,” he said. taurant industry. He started as a dishwasher, then a cook, eventually Those who are returning will find the same inviting atmosphere and menu working 16 years at an Italian restaurant in Chicago. When the owner they’ve come to know and love through the years. They’ll also find Gaeta. decided to retire in 1992, Juan knew he had two choices: He could find The Morrison location is just the right amount of work for Gaeta, who another job, or he could make a dream come true. jokes that you may find him at the restaurant just about every He chose the dream.

MORE INFORMATION day. With an adobe-inspired atmosphere, terra cotta colors and Gaeta opened Original Taco in Chicago in 1992. A little brick arches are mixed with brightly painted murals on the Original Taco over 15 years later, he expanded his footprint, opening a wall, a contribution by Gaeta’s brother-in-law, Trinidad. The 123 E. Main St., Morrison.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. second location in Morrison, at 123 E. Main St., in 2008. restaurant is a cozy location to enjoy the cuisine served up by Monday through Saturday, Gaeta had been considering opening a second location for a Gaeta and his small but dedicated team of employees. noon to 9 p.m. Sunwhile, at one time looking at locations in Dixon and Sterling day. Call 815-772-8226 for Gaeta said the most popular menu items are chicken or carryout orders. when he passed through Morrison and things just sort of fell steak fajitas, and burritos. Customers can snack on appetizOriginal Taco also offers into place: He noticed there was no Mexican restaurant in ers, such as tortilla chips and white cheese, as they await catering town, and what’s more, a building was available. He said he Online: Find Original Taco their entrees. Daily specials include spicy shrimp and on Facebook liked what he saw in the town and decided to make the big various combos. There are also breakfast options, such as leap from Chicago to Morrison, and he’s happy he did.

Mexican eggs or eggs with chorizo. For those craving nonFor the past several years, he split his time between the two restauMexican fare, the cooks can dish up seafood, pastas, cheese fries or even rants – with his wife and five children remaining in the suburbs – but onion rings. The dessert menu is ethnically inspired, too, with fried ice recently decided to invest his time in the Morrison diner and sold his cream, cinnamon chips, dessert nachos, and churros – and you can wash Chicago location. it all down with a margaritas or some Mexican beer.

Today, Gaeta, like other restaurant owners across the nation, is navigating From the regulars to the occasional visitors, Juan said he’s grateful for the the new reality of running a restaurant in a pandemic world. customers who’ve patronized his restaurant over the years, especially during Diners are slowly returning for sit-down meals at Original Taco, this difficult time. He’s determined to keep food on the tables, after getting their fix of Gaeta’s Original recipes through and he knows that as long as he has people there to enjoy it, carry-out only before the lockdown was lifted. While the he’ll be around for a long time to come. carry-out orders were steady, it was anything but business “The people that were here, I want to thank them,” as usual. Now, as more people cautiously venture out, he said. “We had a lot of support.” n

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