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It was 1872, when Ulysses S. Grant defeated Horace Greeley for U.S. president — and Susan B. Anthony had the courage to vote in defiance of U.S. law.
It was also the year Jim Reed’s family first set down roots to farm in central Illinois. Several generations later, they’re still tilling the soil.
Reed tells about it here.
— NewsTalk 1400 & 93.9-FM WDWS (@wdws1400) May 15, 2024
How long has your family been farming?
Our farming operation goes back several generations on both my mother’s and father’s side of the family. As best we can tell, all previous generations farmed. The operation in Piatt County dates back to 1872, with my great-grandfather on my mother’s side, Peter Remmers. His father’s grave is in a rural cemetery near our home farm, and his tombstone is written in German. My Grandfather Huisinga was a German immigrant who came to the U.S. in his teens. On my father’s side, we have farmed in the DeLand area for six generations, and our family dates back to a relative who at the time lived in Virginia and fought in the Revolutionary War.
Where is your farm?
The farm is based southwest of DeLand in Piatt County on a farm my Grandfather and Grandmother Huisinga bought in 1906. The house was ordered from a catalog and shipped to the local lumberyard and constructed in 1912.
How and why did your family come to this area, and from where?
My wife and I are descendants of relatives from Germany, Scotland and Wales. This area was occupied by many people from the same area of Germany my grandparents were from, so they felt secure coming to this area and knew they could find work with former neighbors.
What does your operation consist of?
We currently grow corn, soybeans, wheat and cover crops, and my son is transitioning some acres to organic and regenerative agriculture.
How many people in the family does it support?
Our operation mainly supports my wife and me, and my son Austin’s family.
Are any family members working other jobs?
My wife, Julie, is a certified medical assistant and works for Carle Health. Our son Jason provides tech support to the farm operation and has his own tech company called Prairie Computer Network Solutions, where he works full time. Austin and I work full time on the farm.
How have you seen farm- ing change over the years?
I started farming in 1981, and took over my father’s operation in 1984. In the time from then to now, farms and equipment have grown bigger. The crop mix is less diverse than when I was a kid, and there’s very little livestock in our area. I remember buying my first computer, which only controlled spray operations, back in 1984, and how unique it was. Today, virtually every piece of equipment on the farm is controlled by multiple computers, and some post automatically to the cloud.
As a kid, I never would have dreamed of all the technology in my farm equipment, automobiles and house. I get daily rain reports on my specific fields sent to my phone every morning, and I can track all my inputs by field and enterprise. The combine delivers real-time yield by location in the field, geo-located by GPS. My son Austin started farming two years ago and has a specialty in marketing. I can only imagine the changes he will see during his career.
Your equipment: Green (John Deere), red (Case IH) or other?
We get the equipment we think is best suited for the job it does. We mostly have John Deere equipment but also have some Case IH and Kinze.
What makes farming such a good vocation?
I enjoy being outside and watching things grow. It is very rewarding to plant a seed, help it grow to its maximum potential and bring it to harvest. While every year brings different challenges to how you reach that maximum potential, most years are rewarding. Working with family is a great benefit. Having the grandkids ride in the cab for a while is an awesome experience.
If you could change one thing about farming, what would it be?
To reduce the financial risk of the business. When the biggest variable in your business is weather and you only get to produce and market your product once in a year, it gives you a lot to worry about.
What’s the best time of year to be on the farm?
I really appreciate springtime on the farm. When the seeds are just growing out of the ground and flowers are blooming in the yard around the house, the sights and fragrances outside are wonderful.
What other things are you and your family involved in?
My wife and I are involved with many community and industry organizations as a way to give back and support others. I served many years on the Illinois Corn Grower and Illinois Corn Marketing boards. I currently serve on the board of the DeLand Farmers Coop Grain company and the U.S. Grains Council. Julie is currently on the Piatt County Nursing Home Foundation board and previously served on the Piatt County Farm Bureau Foundation board.
