From the Ground Up

This is a photo of the original owners of Lloyd Farms, my great great grandfather and his family. Front row on the far left is Milo Lloyd. Back row far left is his son Jasper Lloyd.

Our family farm, which has been my home for the last 20 years, was originally brought into the family in 1905. Over the last 116 years the farm has been passed down and owned by four different generations of men in the Lloyd family: my great great grandfather Milo, my great grandfather Jasper, my grandfather Harold, and my father David. To some people it may only be a house with a few buildings and a little land, but to our family it is history and a lifestyle.

My mom snapped this photo a few weeks ago when I came home and spent the evening cutting soybeans with my dad.

A Girl’s Best Friend

For as long as I can remember I was out chasing cows, cutting pigs, or fixing fence with my dad, who has owned our farm for the last 31 years. Whether I was playing in the creek or sitting on a bucket patiently waiting to tame the barn cats, I just had to be outside with my dad. I vividly remember getting off of the preschool bus and begging my mom to let me skip my afternoon nap so I could be in the barn or ride in the tractor instead. My dad was my best friend and I was quite literally attached to his side. I never had a lot to say when I was little, but I knew I wanted to be Dad’s assistant on the farm and spend my life working with animals.

Growing up with the typical farmer as my dad meant a couple things. The first being, every morning we either went to Casey’s to get chocolate milk and a donut or the local feed store down the road for grape juice and cookies. This also meant I was constantly surrounded by other men who farmed as well. Although it is clear women are just as important and capable in agriculture as men, I never could figure out how I would be able to own the family farm someday because I was “just a girl”. The feeling of not being able to achieve my goal of buying the family farm someday lingered over me.

I took this selfie in the summer of 2020 with my new heifer calf from an old 4-H cow I exhibited.

Getting Back on Track

Throughout high school I stayed involved in FFA and 4-H where I held officer positions, competed in many judging competitions, and showed livestock locally. As much as I loved being involved in those clubs and organizations, I really put them on the backburner for a few years to focus on my studies and other extracurriculars. Most days I was up by 5:30AM and not getting home until 8:30PM because of meetings and practices. Because of this, my dad was the one picking up the slack, doing my chores, and taking care of my animals. As much as I appreciated him then, it was not until I went off to college that I really understood how many hours he too was putting in as a farmer, husband, and father.

Fast forward a few years to me starting my educational journey at Black Hawk College- East in Galva, IL. During my time at BHE I gained knowledge and hands-on experiences I probably would not have gotten anywhere else. I am now currently at Western Illinois University for similar reasons and my love for the industry only continues to grow deeper. At both schools I was and am surrounded by educators who push me to grow as a person, as well as expand my knowledge on topics I never had much interest in before. Out of all the lessons I have been taught by professors and colleagues so far, there are a few important concepts I have begun to realize on my own as well. One of those is that not everyone who comes from an agricultural background knows it all, and not everyone who comes from “the city” knows nothing. 

When I started college I felt like I was behind everyone else. The people I went to school with never took their eyes away from agriculture and their dads certainly did not do their chores for them just because they “got too busy”. I bet they wondered, “how could that girl be a farmer’s daughter when she never knew this or hadn’t done that”. However, I started to recognize that even if they knew a lot about a particular topic or had a lot of experience in a certain field, that did not discredit all that I know and experienced as well. When I started using what I knew and what others could teach me, I was able to carry that stuff home and help my dad enhance our programs or just have conversations I may not have understood before.

This is a picture I captured from our pasture this fall that shows the silhouette of our farm.

Daughter of a Fourth Generation Farmer

Agriculture was all I knew growing up and it was always something I was very passionate about, but being the farmer’s daughter was not always easy. Even though I was always out on the farm, it was obvious I never knew everything about how it worked. But after being in college for a while, I figured out that I am here to learn and improve my work ethic. It is okay to not know everything or sometimes anything!

Undeniably, most of the love I have for agriculture comes from watching my dad pour everything he has into his career. He is the hardest working man I know and nothing keeps him down. Even when he is sick, he pushes through to get his work done. Although I never met or hardly knew my grandparents who started it all, I think in a way it connects us too. I see the dedication they have instilled in my dad, and I only hope my dad can see the love for agriculture he has ingrained in me as well. I pray that someday I can give back to my dad the way he gave to me while I was in school. He, and the rest of the men before him, will forever be the biggest reason I chose agriculture as my career and why I never gave up when I felt incapable, uneducated, and inexperienced.

At the end of the day it does not matter where you come from, it is just about how much work you are willing to put in to make this industry the best it can be. There is always going to be someone who knows more than you or has done more than you, but do not let that stop you from chasing after something you love. I will forever be grateful for the past generations who have set me up for success in this industry. I cannot wait to see where I go from here as I begin to get more and more involved with our family’s history and greatest treasure!

“A farm is more than land and crops. It is a family’s heritage and future”

– Randy Frazier

Photo taken by WIU Visual Production Center.

Hello, my name is Allie Lloyd and I grew up on a small family farm a few miles west of Reynolds, IL. I am currently a junior at Western Illinois University where I am majoring in Agricultural Science and minoring in Agricultural Business. After graduation I would like to pursue my Master’s degree in Animal Nutrition or Genetics to later obtain a job working with animals and people who will continually grow my knowledge in agriculture. I hope you enjoyed reading my post and learning a little bit about me. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!

Coming Back To My Home Roots

It was my junior year at Cambridge High School in Illinois and I was searching for my next step with education. I started looking into junior colleges and universities to find the perfect match for my career path with animal science and agriculture. I did not realize how important this decision was for my future and the person I was going to become. Through searching and visiting multiple schools, I found myself narrowing it down to three schools; Iowa State University, Oklahoma State University, and Western Illinois University. After long talks with my family and looking at the different opportunities each school offered, I decided to continue my education at Oklahoma State University. This decision would end up being an eye opening experience that helped me figure out where I truly wanted to end up in life.

Moving South

I graduated high school and I before I knew it, I was moving into my new home at Oklahoma State University. The first couple weeks were a very big transition for myself, just like every other freshmen at college. I found myself 9 hours away from home, within a new atmosphere, and people I have never met before. It became very overwhelming at times, but I was able to adapt to the new college setting and being apart of a campus that had over 20,000 students enrolled when I came from a high school with under 200 students in the whole school.

I found myself enjoying campus life the longer I was there, but felt like I was missing that feeling of calling it my new home. I started to rethink my decision of Oklahoma State University and started to look at my other option of Western Illinois University. I found myself traveling home more than I would have liked to help my family with our livestock showing and was spending extra money to come home, along with paying for tuition for an out-of-state school that I was not in love with.

I was able to visit Western Illinois University more in that semester when I came home on weekends to visit my older sister that was a senior who was majoring in nursing at WIU. I started to enjoy the small town feel, being closer to home to be able to help my family show livestock, and having a tremendously lower tuition. So, when I went back to Oklahoma after Thanksgiving break, I decided I was going to transfer in the spring and start to move my stuff back to Macomb, Illinois.

This image was taken at my first homecoming week at OSU with my family.

Coming Home

After leaving OSU and moving my stuff to WIU after winter break, I started to feel more at home and felt more comfortable in my new setting. The biggest difference that I noticed at the beginning was the smaller atmosphere that felt like family. It was easier for me to get involved with many clubs and organizations right off the bat because it was less intimidating to get started and have more of an impact being with a smaller school. I started to build my new friend group and found my new home and family that I was happy to be apart of.

My family was very helpful with my transition and I was able to be more familiar with the area of Macomb because both of my parents were alumni of WIU and so was my older sister. I was able to grow up visiting WIU to watch my sister compete at her track meets when she was a student and we would come to football games to catch up with old family friends that went to school with my parents. I was able to see the connections that they all made and the life long friends they had from their experiences. I was soon able to make the same memories and have my own impact at WIU.

This image was taken at a tailgating event when I was in high school visiting my older sister at WIU.

I have been grateful for my decision to transfer to WIU and has made me realize how strong my passions are for the agriculture industry in Illinois. I am currently in my final year at WIU and have enjoyed every second of my experiences here. The only regret I have is not coming straight to WIU, but if it was not for my experiences at OSU and leaving Illinois, I never would have realized the true passion I have for WIU and how much I enjoyed being closer to home to help my family with their show career. My dad knew I would have a good experience at WIU and knew I would enjoy being closer to home to make an impact on my passion for showing livestock. This made me come back to my roots in Illinois and grow myself to better my future career.

“Western Illinois University was my second home and I know it will be yours too.”

-Blake Reed

About the Author

Hello, my name is Austin Reed and I am originally from Cambridge, Illinois. I am currently a senior at Western Illinois University, majoring in Agricultural Science with two minors in Agricultural Economics and Animal Science. I am a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, Hoof N’ Horn club, Ag Vocators, and Ag Council here at WIU. I have a background in corn/soybean production and beef/pork production and plan on having a career path emphasized in animal science.

From Clueless to Crop Science

Imagine it’s the last month of your senior year in high school. This period of time is filled with joy and relaxation as the last four years of your life you have worked so hard for are soon to be rewarded with a diploma. Many may feel a sense of excitement and urgency to start the next chapter of their lives whether it’s attending college in or out of your home state, joining a trade school, or jumping into the workforce. For me however, I was anything but relaxed or excited for the next chapter of my life. I had no plan, idea, or direction of where I wanted to go in life. All I knew was that my time to decide what I was going to do for the rest of my life was rapidly approaching sooner than I wanted it to. 

With not being the most involved high school student, I didn’t have a great GPA to show for it. The only involvement I had in high school was FFA which I only was a member of and nothing more. That being said my parents didn’t have a lot of high school involvement or attend college either so I never really saw the value of attending college. I just figured I’d go out into the real world and find a job that paid $100,000 a year so I could live happily. Easy enough right? Well that last month of high school rapidly came to a conclusion and believe it or not I didn’t have that six figure job lined up like I originally planned. This meant it was back to the drawing board and maybe time to look into other areas of interest previously not explored by myself.  

The last week of my senior year became a panic as the consequences of my own actions set in. What was I going to do now? Where was I going to work? Where would I be 5 years from now? All these questions I didn’t have the answers to raced through my head. All this changed however when I discovered some of my friends were going to apply to a community college.  This struck me as a golden opportunity to buy me some more time to think about what I wanted to do with my life. Although college was a scary thought to me, not having a plan or being forced to live with my parents for the rest of my life was an even scarier thought. Therefore, that same week I applied and was accepted to Lincoln Land Community College with an undecided major. 

With being accepted into college, now came the struggle of setting a major I wanted to learn about and work with later in life. With growing up in west central rural Illinois, it comes to no surprise that I was introduced to agriculture at a young age. However, I had no real interest, passion, or desire to be in or work in agriculture as I grew older. Although I grew up and currently live on a small 100 acre row crop farm, my parents, nor grandparents have farmed this ground as we have always cash rented it out to a neighbor. While my father had some agricultural experience working for a farm when he was in high school, he has only worked a factory job ever since I have been alive. With this in mind I thought what little agriculture experience I had would suffice as being my major and is what I selected to study in college. 

^{The small farm I grew up on and currently live on in west central Illinois}

Fast forward to my last month at LLCC two years later. Against all my fears and thoughts about college, I had developed into a great student not only academically, but my passion, desire, and involvement in agriculture skyrocketed as well. During my time at Lincoln Land Community College, I fell in love with agriculture and often found myself asking questions in class and studying after class, something I rarely did in high school. With my newfound success and interest in agriculture in college, I decided that I wanted to expand my knowledge of agriculture by attending a four year college and receiving a bachelor’s degree. However, this presented another struggle, where would I go to get this degree? I didn’t know how, where, or when to apply to a four year college and I had no clue of what college best suited me. All this changed however when I overheard a professor and student talking about Western Illinois University after class one day. I knew nothing about this college or even where it was in Illinois. However, listening to the positive things this professor and student said about WIU coaxed me to do my own research and apply to the college. 

Fast forward another two years to my last month as a student at WIU. Again all my fears of attending a university vanished the day I first started classes. All the students, faculty, and staff were as welcoming and friendly as could be. All the classes I’ve taken have exceeded my expectations of knowledge gained and retained. As well as my experience overall at the college has been above and beyond anything I could have ever planned for or anticipated.

^{Photo taken by Dr. Bernards
Luke Bergschneider and I applying varying rates of multiple herbicides to brassica cover crops for a weed science experiment in the WIU greenhouses, February, 2021.}

With my time nearing an end at WIU, it is hard to believe that a kid with no plan or ambition to further his education outside of high school, somehow is a month away from receiving his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science at one of the best agriculture universities in the state of Illinois. I cannot thank anyone and everyone enough for pushing me to step out of my comfort zone and do something that nobody in my immediate family has done before. While I still have a lot to learn in life, Western has helped me obtain more knowledge about what I am passionate about, and what I am capable of as an individual

Plans are nothing; Planning is everything.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

About the Author

Hello, my name is Ethan Davidson and I am a senior at Western Illinois University majoring in agricultural science with a minor in agronomy. After graduating from WIU in December, I am planning to work towards obtaining a master’s degree in crop science from somewhere in or around the midwest. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!

Family Memories Made at a Farm Show

This past summer happened to be the year for my family to attend the Half Century of Progress Show in Rantoul, IL. Many people in the agriculture community are aware of the yearly Farm Progress Show but not as many are aware of the Half Century of Progress Show. Just to give some back ground, the Farm Progress show displays the newest farm machinery and technologies. It is also a place for different agriculture businesses to set up stands and talk with farmers about their products and services. While the Farm Progress Show is a wonderful thing there is just something better about The Half Century of Progress Show to me.

What is the Half Century of Progress Show?

The Half Century of Progress Show purpose is to appreciate and demonstrate the different machinery and equipment used over the past 50 or more years. You can see a wide varieties of equipment made in variety of years from tractors, combines, plows, and pickers. It is basically a place where you can see the equipment that my generations parent’s and grandparent’s use to run. It is located on an old air force base so it is very spread out and has multiple different fields that get planted with either corn or soybeans. The show occurs every other year so the next show will be in 2023.

This shot was taken at the 2019 show of Earthquake pulling a 20 bottom plow.

This year was my fourth year attending the show. My favorite part of the four day show is watching the harvesting and tillage. There really is a variety of things for everyone to enjoy. There is a market place to buy parts, t-shirts, toys, and signs. They have tractor pulls every night and host a parade every afternoon. The crazy thing about the show is all of the ATV’s and four-wheelers. There is so many it could just be an ATV convention. It is interesting to see what is driving around on the tarmac with you. The picture above of Earthquake shows a glimpse of how many people attend the show.

Family Memories

This is a picture of some of my family and I while we were attending the
show in 2021. (Photo Credit: Brenda Post)

The show is so special to me is because I get to spend quality time with my family. Every year I learn something new about equipment. In addition to how things were done a few decades ago. It always brings out stories of how my family farm has changed over the years. This year was the first time my niece and nephew got to attend the show with us. Watching them observe and learn was an experience I’m grateful to have seen. Getting to see the horse drawn plows and the corn getting shelled after being picked definitely peaked their interest. Many laughs and smiles made up our days talking about memories of the past, while making new ones.

My dad showing my sister and I the same model of combine he
first drove as a kid. (Photo Credit: Brenda Post)

One memory that sticks out in my mind is from my very first show. We happened to be able to get a room in one of the few hotels in Rantoul. We set our alarm very early for the next morning and let me tell you it was early, especially since we had gone to bed well after 12 A.M. The lack of sleep was well worth it when I caught site of the air force base for the first time. We stopped and got some breakfast and then it was time to watch the flag raising. Standing up watching a gigantic American flag being raised by two cranes, while listening to our national anthem there was just something special about it. There is nothing better than being surrounded by people who share my passion for agriculture and spending quality time with my family.

If you enjoy anything about farming or if you want to make a few memories with your family you should take them to The Half Century of Farm Progress Show. I know my family and I will continue making memories here for years to come.

I always learn something new each time I go. I honestly just enjoy it so much from getting to spend quality time with my family.

by Kelsey Post

If you want to learn more about the show check out the Half Century of Progress Website.

About The Author

Hi, everyone! I’m Alex Post, from Golden, Illinois. I am a senior here at Western Illinois University with a major in Agriculture Science and a minor in Agronomy. If there is two things you learn about me from this blog is that I love my family and farming. Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog!

Finding My True Purpose

Remember sitting in kindergarten and your teacher asking you what you wanted to be when you grew up? My answer was a princess, because what else would a five year old want to be? Then you get older but the question of “what do you want to be when you grow up” never seems to go away no matter how old you get. My answer never did stay the same, I varied from teacher, to vet, back to teacher, to becoming a hairstylist one day. Oh boy, would you look at me now. Looking back I knew that becoming a princess was out of my reach, but never did I think I would find myself pursuing an education in agriculture.

Starting Small

I remember the first time I stepped foot on a farm, I was so in awe of everything around me. Seeing all the livestock and equipment around me, I was short of shell shocked to say the least. After that day, I knew agriculture was my calling and I was going to find a way to get into something I knew nothing about.

When I started high school, I immediately signed up to be part of my FFA chapter. Did I have any idea what I was getting into? Absolutely… NOT, but I rolled with the punches and I am so thankful that I did. Once I got the hang of being an FFA member I do not think my family ever saw me because I always found a way to be busy. Whether I was studying for a contest, or updating my record book, FFA dominated my high school career.

The FFA organization taught me so much. Taught me how to stand on my own feet, how to collaborate with others, how to use my own voice and how to be loud and proud. FFA let me be the person that I am and helped my figure out how to be a women in agriculture.

Moving On Up

Well FFA could only take me so far, but it lead me to my greatest adventure yet. Western Illinois University has impacted my life almost as greatly as what FFA did. I have had so many opportunities, I have made so many friends and I have become part of a lifelong aggie family.

Choosing to come to Western may have been one of the scariest things that I have chosen to do in my life. Coming in as a freshmen in agriculture, I had no idea what I was doing. With no agriculture background to cushion me it was a culture shock. I remember my first day in my intro to crop class and not having a single idea what my professor was saying to me, it was like they were speaking in a different language. Luckily for me, Western has some pretty great professors who are willing to take the time to make sure their students understand the material and succeed in their college career.

I have learned so much from being a WIU aggie. I have learned how to castrate pigs, how to properly eat at professional dinners and how to identify specific crops and the pest that affect our crops. Some of these things I never thought I would encounter let alone be taught in a classroom. Western has great classes but an even better community. Coming in to Western I was horrified that I was not going to find my place or make any friends, but thankfully Western almost guarantees forever friends and connections that will last a lifetime. When I chose to become an aggie, I chose to become a part of a forever family.

Although becoming a princess did not work out for me, I could not be happier with the career path that I have chosen to travel down. Even though I am still not sure where this path will lead me I know that I will find my place in the agricultural community and make a difference one day, and I know my aggie family will behind me cheering the entire way.

“Often you will end up loving the new things your try and even if you don’t love it, you’ve given yourself a new experience.”

Ali Simpson

Meet the Author

WIU Visual Arts Center

Hi everyone, my name is Breanna Bowen. I am from Camp Point, Illinois, and I am currently a junior studying ag business here at Western Illinois University. When I am not being a student, I am participating in all my extracurriculars. I am the service and philanthropy chair for the Sigma Alpha sorority, president of the Ag Business Club and reporter for CFFA. When I am not out and about you can find me in dorms being a resident assistant for our ag living learning community. Although I do not come from a farm background, after my time at WIU comes to a halt I plan on applying my knowledge out in the open and becoming a strong female voice in the agricultural community.

Farm Kid to Farm Operator

Growing Up On The Farm

Before I was even old enough to walk, my dad would take me out to the farm to ride in the tractor with him or to, “Supervise him doing chores” as he would tell my mom. I was constantly around the farm growing up and as soon as I could walk, talk, and comprehend the things that were happening out there, it was game over. I knew that was the place that I wanted to be. I would spend the majority of my time before preschool out at the farm exploring and following in the footsteps of whatever my dad and grandpa were doing at the farm. Unless, of course, it was too dangerous for a 2-year old, in that case I would generally go in and play with toy tractors and farm equipment with my grandma. Either way, there was a common denominator, the farm was always involved. Within the next year, it was time for me to start preschool. My mom works in Gibson City where we live, and the farm is 15 minutes away in Saybrook, where dad and I spent most of our time. So, when it came to the discussion between mom and dad of where they would send me for preschool it was pretty simple. There was a preschool in Saybrook where I would attend in the mornings and then be picked up by dad, grandma, or grandpa at lunchtime, and then proceed to have the entire afternoon to spend at the farm with a handful of family members nearby to watch me if need be, that was the easy choice. I continued to spend almost every single day out at the farm where I would “help” dad and grandpa by picking up tools or petting the cows. At this time, my brothers also started showing pigs, so I would help them work with their pigs as well. I actually showed my first pig at just 3 years old!

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An image of me showing my first pig at 3 years old at the Ford County Fair.

Role Models

As I continued to grow up and pigs were involved, it really became an obsession. I was always out with the pigs, petting them, brushing them, working on their hair, and walking them just like my dad and brothers were doing. I was always trying to mimic and make my role models proud. Luckily enough for me, I was surrounded by an extensive network of outstanding role models within my family, both directly inside and outside of production agriculture. Role models are influential people in our lives, that we see as idols, someone to share ideals with, someone to try to be like. Role models shape the person that we become and lead us to our values, interests, and inevitably our futures. My grandfather and dad were my biggest role models growing up on the farm. They were both farmers, the 4th and 5th generation farmers in my family. But, more importantly, they exemplified the meaning of being a good person. When I was surrounded by them on a daily basis, I was able not only to form a love for agriculture, but understand values and what it means to be a kind person, that helps others, and treats them with respect throughout every given day. My family, my support system, my role models, allowed me to become the person that I am today and I hope that no matter the situation that anyone is born into, that everyone can find a role model to look up to that positively impacts them and helps them find what they want to do in the future. That is exactly what my grandpa, dad, and countless others helped me realize as I was growing up, I wanted to be a farmer.

“Role Models are what I see as the biggest determining factor in your future” – Glenn Wright (Grandpa)

Growing Up And Always Loving Ag

As I started to attend school in Gibson City, I was at the farm less and only went out on the weekends. However, I was still out there whenever I got the chance, because I loved it, the people that I looked up to loved it, and they viewed it as their way of life. As I got into middle school and high school, I became more and more hands on, soaking up every ounce of information that I possibly could from dad, grandpa, articles, and other sources so that I could help make decisions on the farm. My grandpa and dad noticed how much I loved it and gave me perfect opportunities to continue to learn and experience more things within our row/crop and diversified livestock operation. They allowed me to start driving tractors, tilling the ground, vaccinating and working with cattle and pigs, as well as other hands on tasks. As I completed these adventures and continued to soak in more and more knowledge my grandpa started letting me make key decisions on the farm. First, it started out with the livestock we show, things such as what to feed them, who to breed them to, and ways to maximize efficiency. Then, as I continued to learn things in school and from my dad and grandpa about row/crop and beef production he started to allow me to be one of the key decision makers on our commercial cow herd when I was in high school. With their continued trust, grandpa looked at me as the 6th generation farmer in our family and urged me to go to college to study agriculture to learn the science behind decisions made in our farming operations, specifically on the row/crop side, the part of our operation that I understood the least. With this at heart, I started looking into colleges and it came down to two, the University of Illinois and Western Illinois University. After visiting both colleges, Western had a family feel and knowledgeable professors, that was the obvious choice for me. Now, I am in my 3rd year studying Agriculture Science with a minor in Agronomy and Animal Science here at Western Illinois University and I am loving it. The best part is that I am learning more about farming and what I love, while still being hands on and involved on the farm. This previous spring, I was giving the opportunity to rent 40 acres of ground in Saybrook, and was able to farm it this year. It is amazing that I was able to do something that I’ve been dreaming about since I was playing with toys on the floor of the house or while I was riding with dad in the tractor. My role models gave this opportunity to me, and I can’t wait to continue to follow their footsteps and be the best person I can be, while furthering my education, and doing what I love, farming.

About the Author

• 

Photo from WIU

Hello, my name is Garrett Wright and I come to you from Gibson City, IL. I am currently a junior at Western Illinois University majoring in Agricultural Science, with a minor in Agronomy and Animal Science. I am a member of the livestock judging team, as well as a member of the Hoof n’ Horn club, agronomy club, and President of the Alpha Gamma Sigma fraternity. I grew up on a diversified farm, where we have a row crop operation, a commercial cow/calf herd, and a small show pig operation.

Brothers By Choice

Growing up, it was always just me. I grew up my whole life an only child, on my family farm with my mom and dad. I always have somewhat stuck to myself and have done what I was comfortable with. This all changed when I was introduced to Alpha Gamma Rho.

Alpha Tau Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho, Fall 2020

Alpha Gamma Rho

I went to two different community colleges my first two years of college. When my time was up at community college, I decided to transfer to Western Illinois University to finish my schooling. After moving and getting settled in, my cousin reached out to me asking if I was interested in joining a fraternity. Now at first I was hesitant, I had no plans of going to college, let alone join a “frat.” My perception of what Alpha Gamma Rho was changed when I first stepped foot into the house. I felt surrounded with guys from different places and different back grounds than me. I have been exposed to different sides of agriculture I had personally had very little to no experience in. This helped open my mind up, knowing that there were more ways to make a living in agriculture other than what I had seen my father do for years. This networking tool helped open up many different avenues in the agricultural industry.

Alpha Gamma Rho House, located at 1010 North Lafayette Street Macomb, IL.

Being in Alpha Gamma Rho with other men who share the same passion and love for agriculture was a support system I was not used to. Having brothers to go to classes and labs with helps relieve anxiety about not knowing anyone in class. Having brothers around to help hold you accountable for how you represent Alpha Gamma Rho in public and on campus was a big step I took personally in becoming a better man. Not only did Alpha Gamma Rho teach me responsibility, but it also taught me to step outside of my comfort zone and try new things.

Alpha Tau Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho at the 29th Annual Smokin’ Hog

Being a member of Alpha Gamma Rho has taught me the importance of giving back to the community. Every year in the last week of October, Alpha Gamma Rho hosts their largest annual philanthropy event, Smokin’ Hog. This year we were able to raise more than $20,000 to give back to the community. I joined Alpha Gamma Rho to be apart of something that was bigger than myself, so I could have the opportunity to give back to the community who gives so much to us.

Throughout this journey I can say I found a home away from home, and the best brothers any guy could ask for. We are not brothers by blood, but by deliberate choice. Not only did Alpha Gamma Rho teach me to be a better man, but also gave me real brothers for life.

“Alpha Gamma Rho just isn’t a club. It’s an organization that builds you and the people around you, while giving back to the community that supports it. Improving yourself and each other through brotherhood is one of the most genuine things I have been able to experience.”

Cameron Kessling, Noble Ruler

Headshot

My name is Michael Moore and I am a senior here at Western Illinois University. I am studying agriculture science with a minor in agronomy. My hometown is Monmouth, IL.

To Make the Best Better. Chasing Dreams and Being the Helping Hand.

Photo Courtesy of Lindsey Hanewich Photography & Design

There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t get asked, “Why do you do what you do?” or ” Why are you always talking about show pigs?”. I have no idea how many of you attended the 2017 Indiana State Fair Barrow Grand Drive judged by Western Illinois University’s very own Dr.Mark Hoge and Andy Rash.No one could have described livestock showing better and what it means to me and to so many others. “This, livestock showing, is special. It’s not a hobby. I don’t care what you say, it’s not a hobby, its a way of life.”-Andy Rash.

Photo Courtesy of Lindsey Hanewich Photography & Design

Ever since I was born I have been around show pigs. In the early 2000s my dad ran a small show pig operation, but funny story; my dad sold out of the show pig business and the following year I had the grand idea of joining 4-H and exhibiting pigs. Some of my greatest memories and greatest friends came from my ten-plus years of exhibiting livestock at all levels of competition, meeting people from different states, and making connections that will last a lifetime that will help me in the near future. My connections and past experiences have led me to where I am today. If it wasn’t for the livestock industry, my passion, or my drive, then I don’t think I would have ended up in Mattoon, IL at Lake Land College to begin my academic career. Fast forward to where I am now, a 20-year-old junior in college at Western Illinois University working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Business and Animal Science while being a member of WIU’s Hoof N’ Horn club along with being a member of the Livestock Judging Team.

Back home I co-run a 15 head sow farm raising show pigs, alongside one of my greatest friends Devon Fisher. After reading this you might be wondering how the title pertains to me discussing my passion for livestock and the industry. As my show career has come to an end, I can reflect upon the saying, “You’re never done, your roles just change.” While I begin raising show pigs and finding hogs for families across the midwest, I can only feel more excited than I ever did exhibiting livestock. Being behind the sprayer or being behind the breeding decision on a champion gilt or barrow is one of the best feelings I have ever felt. Growing up showing pigs I never showed the best one. I had to learn, work hard, and ask questions on how to find the right one and what to feed them. At the beginning of my show career, it was always a team decision within my family on what to buy and what to do with the animal. Now that my time is up, I thoroughly enjoy helping 4-H kids with their projects and being there for them when they need my help. Part of that is because I never had that certain someone there and helping me. Assisting these kids is only going to keep making our youth better because one day, when they are in my shoes, they can lead by example and always lend a helping hand as I hope to.

Photo Courtesy of Lindsey Hanewich Photography & Design

Regardless of what anyone says, everyone in the livestock industry has their trade secrets. With that being said, that is where the non-helping side of the industry comes into effect of being the issue today. That is exactly where I want to come into play for the youth and the future of the industry leaders to make them be able to help whoever and whenever. It doesn’t matter how much money you invest into your 4-H project. The smile that comes from those kids’ faces is what makes it all worth it at the end of the day and I quote ” This is why I do, what I do”. While striving to always raise the best, and one day lead the industry that I love, I can only hope that I provide a positive impact for youth. For myself, this industry is about more than simply generating profit, or raising ones that win, but connecting with families that are hungry for success, and making the best better.

About The Author

Hello everyone my name is Dane Robertson, I am from a small town called Monrovia, Indiana. I recently just transferred to Western Illinois University from Lake Land College in Mattoon, IL. Here at Western Illinois University, I am studying Agriculture Business and Animal Science, where I am also a member of the Livestock Judging Team and WIU’s Hoof N’ Horn. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read my blog post and have a great day!

Photo Courtesy of Codee Schmidgall at Cindy’s Livestock Photos

The Leatherneck Pipeline

Picture this, you’re a senior in high school giving Mom and Dad a hug, and taking that “last first day photo.” You may feel a sigh of relief at the time but also know on that back burner life as you know it is about to undergo a serious change. I remember this feeling like it was yesterday and asking myself the night before “so, what’s next?” For some this may be attending trade school, for others that may be going back to the family business. For me however, that answer to the question was college to study agriculture. The fact of the matter was at the time I had no plan for what was next. All I could think about was trying to find the best college for my skill set that would launch me into a rewarding and well-paid professional career in production agriculture.

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Picture taken during the fall of my senior year in high school (2019)

I remember all of the talks I had with my father. We would discuss where the best place to get a college degree in agriculture would be. In my mind, since I was from Indiana, and my father is a professor and an extension weed scientist at Purdue University, Purdue was my target. Purdue was close to home. It was convenient to where I could live at home and be a commuter student. During my junior and senior year in high school, I also had the opportunity to work in the research program for the other weed scientist at Purdue, Dr. Bryan Young. So I knew finding an on campus job in an interesting field was obtainable. Aside from that, another factor was that Purdue has a good reputation for training people to find careers in agriculture, which in the end is my goal.

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Picture with Dad after one of his field days (2020)

It felt like at one point in the fall of my senior year, the next path was paved. That was to attend a local community college near home to obtain my general education requirements to save money, and then attend Purdue to study agriculture. For a few weeks I felt confident in this plan to prepare me for the workforce, but I developed a weird feeling in my gut. I originally thought it was because I was nervous to be done with high school and start a “new chapter.” But I also knew I was going to live with my parents for the next four years and listen to them lecture me every day. In the end I put these thoughts to rest telling myself “to keep going with the flow” and everything will work out later.

Later in the fall of my senior year, I had just got home from school and work for the day, and saw a magazine on the table in the kitchen. The magazine read “Western Illinois University Agriculture Alumni.” At first glance, I was confused. I said to myself “Western Illinois, what kind of school is that”? So as the nosey individual I consider myself to be, I asked my father when he came home from work that night. Almost immediately I could feel a spark in his eyes when I mentioned WIU. He immediately went on to talk about his time there as an undergrad, while learning he obtained his B.S. in 1987 in ag science before obtaining his M.S. and Ph.D. at the University of Arkansas to go on being the extension weed scientist at Purdue University today. I also found out that my grandpa got his B.S. in Agriculture in 1965 from WIU before obtaining his M.S. at the University of Illinois later in his professional life as a professional farm manager for Hutchinson Farm Management in Geneseo, IL. Right there I knew in my mind this was something to give strong consideration to.

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Dad standing out at the WIU agronomy farm in 1987 admiring the weed garden he had just put in for Dr. Gordon Roskamp

The rest was history after that night. After multiple conversations with my Dad and Grandpa I felt good about pursuing enrollment at WIU, and was admitted to attend school there. I then went to visit WIU later that fall, and I attended the WIU Ag Open House in the spring of my senior year. Any previous plans to stay close to home for my undergraduate degree were thrown out the window and torched. My mindset changed from being a homebody to leaving the nest. All I ever want in life is to be successful.  I realized from making this decision that I can get away from home and grow as an individual. I decided at this stage in my life it was time to do something out of my comfort zone and attempt to use my skill set to create a resume that highlights my skills and professional goals which is “hands-on or old school”. Western offers a phenomenal hands-on education, and is the “most underrated” school to receive an undergraduate degree in agriculture in the midwest. Some of the most notable advantages to a WIU education are smaller class sizes and teachers that know the students by name, not by a number. In addition, WIU has trained not one, but two generations of Johnson’s, both of which have had successful careers in the agricultural occupations field. While making my decision to attend WIU, I not only wanted to create a legacy for myself but also continue a family tradition and be a third generation Leatherneck in the School of Agriculture.

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Grandpa taking a picture with my Father after he graduated from WIU in 1987

It is hard to believe that in just one year from now I will be graduating from WIU and moving on to my next chapter. I am proud at the things I have accomplished so far. This includes competing in the NCWSS (North Central Weed Science Society) poster competitions and the summer weed contest competition. I was fortunate to win my poster section for undergrads on a research poster at the 2020 winter meeting, and this past summer, winning second highest overall individual at the summer weed contest at North Dakota State University. I’ve also had the opportunity to be involved with the WIU Agronomy Club. I am currently the president of the club and I am responsible for scheduling field trips to various agricultural facilities and bringing in guest speakers that work in production agriculture to share their industry knowledge. I’ve had the opportunity to broaden my research and work experiences with internships with Syngenta Crop Protection (2019 and 2020) and Wyffels Hybrids (2021) in the summers, and I have worked for the WIU Agronomy Farm and various farmers around Macomb during the school year and for the Purdue Weed Science in high school and during college breaks.

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Taken this summer when competing in the NCWSS competition in Fargo North Dakota (2021)

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Recent club field trip to the Wyffels Hybrids production facility (Atkinson, IL)

Western has been a great fit for my educational and professional goals. None of what was stated above would have happened without leaving Indiana to attend WIU for my education. I also want to acknowledge and thank a very important mentor during my time here, Dr. Mark Bernards. I don’t know where my development would be without the training opportunities he offers in his classes, and work experiences out on the farm with small plot research. Even to add all of the conversations we have had about work, school, and life outside of class or work. He is an excellent teacher and cares that students learn concepts that can be applied in the real world. I am confident with him and Dr. Joel Gruver teaching soils and crops science classes the future for the agriculture program this university offers will continue to train students that are prepared for rewarding careers.

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Taken this summer at the NCWSS weed contest Dr. Bernards prepared our team for (2021)

“Students majoring in agriculture at Western have something lots of students from the big land grant universities don’t have, and that is the grit and perseverance to learn and succeed”- Bill Johnson Purdue University Extension Weed Scientist.

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Bill Johnson

Whether you are an alumnus or a current student, you should feel honored to be a part of the WIU school of Agriculture. Students at Western have a chip on their shoulder compared to students at larger university’s. Many of us at Western like being the underdog, because we fly under the radar and are hungry. We are trained for the real world with the applied classes taught by our faculty to prepare us for that chapter. My advice to new students is that if you take advantage of each opportunity provided with student clubs, internships, and Western’s curriculum to build your skill set and resume, the sky’s the limit on your potential. WIU has the right recipe for success if you utilize your resources accordingly. I am proud to be following the same footsteps as the generations did before me. It’s not every day you see three generations of Leathernecks from 1961-2021 be a part of this system. I know in the back of my mind what this school did for my dad and grandpa, and still the best is yet to come. I will bleed purple and gold for the rest of my life and represent this school with pride.

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Pictured with my Father and Grandpa (2020)

About the Author –

My name is Jake Johnson and I am a third generation Leatherneck from Lafayette, Indiana. I am currently a junior here at Western Illinois University studying Agriculture Science with a minor in Agronomy. At WIU, I am involved in the Agronomy Club and currently serving as president. My future plans are to complete an R&D internship with BASF next summer in Champaign, Illinois, and graduate from WIU in December 2022. I plan to attend graduate school to obtain a M.S. in Weed Science with hopes of becoming an agronomist with a crop protection or seed company, and hobby farm in Geneseo Illinois, where my family is originally from. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. 

Johnson’s hobby farm, Geneseo, IL (1993)

My Road to Agriculture

Growing up in rural Illinois, it’s hard not to grow up without having the urge to play with tractors and big equipment. I was no different than anyone else my age, however, I was not born into an agricultural family. I grew up a couple miles north of Sciota, Illinois, on a piece of ground that my grandfather purchased long ago. I grew up hunting and fishing on that ground and always admired the neighbors working in their fields late at night to grow that great gold corn crop. I so desperately wanted to grow up to do the same thing. Now that I’m a little older, I changed my thought on wanting to be a farmer, I’ll stick to working for one instead (it’s a lot cheaper to work for one than to be one).

Growing Farm Knowledge

I was a sophomore attending West Prairie High School in 2017 when I was approached by my neighbor about driving a grain truck. At first I was hesitant, I’d never driven a truck of that size and weight, plus I had never done any real farm work. I learned to drive the 1975 International Loadstar and did it with confidence. That same confidence led me to the field cultivator where I did my first real farm work in a big tractor. I only ended up helping for that one fall, but I would go on to work for Chem Gro learning about anhydrous ammonia application and much more. All of these events led me to where I currently work today. I got on with Curtis Land Improvement in Sciota doing some farm work and also doing field drainage.

“Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful, and most noble employment of man”

George Washington

Valuing Unnoticed Work

I quickly began to realize that installing and repairing field tile was tough work. Although it was extremely hot during the summers, it also paid in a feeling of accomplishment. There is a proud feeling when you see the field you drained succeed the following year. In many cases, the fields that we worked in ended up yielding far better than they had in the past. It is truly amazing what trenched field tile can do. For those that don’t know what field tile is, it is essentially a perforated, flexible tube with very small holes that collects water from the ground, and spreads it to a nearby waterway to keep the field from holding water. The tile is fed through the machine pictured below and is buried into a trench.

What I Learned

I learned that farming is far more complicated than the young me pictured. Farming is not just driving around in a field all day tearing up and sowing the ground. It is a year long project. I learned how to install field tile and repair tile lines as well. Working on a farm is also not easy work, everyday is a sweaty day when there is outdoor work to be done. There are no off days. When its raining, there are always repairs on machinery in the shop, or equipment to detail. And for that dream of me driving around in tractors, it is now a reality.

About the Author

Hello! My name is Cole Chambers and I am from Sciota, Illinois. I am currently a sophomore at WIU with an intended major of Ag Business. I have a strong connection to the machinery and mechanical side of agriculture. I enjoy my time at Western and hope to achieve a career in Ag Business!