Illinois Farm Families

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Illinois Farm Families From our families to yours: come see how we grow your food with care. Learn more at www.watchusgrow.org We want to answer those questions. Stay on topic.

Illinois Farm Families is a coalition of farmers committed to:

• Showing you how we grow your food
• Answering your questions about farms, farmers and farming
• Sharing with you what happens on modern Illinois farms

We know you care about how your food is raised. We do, too, because we feed our families the same food we grow for you and your family. We realize that you probably have a lot of questions about farming – about why, when and how we use chemicals, antibiotics and hormones, about how we care for our animals. Our Commenting Standards Policy:

We welcome your participation on this page, including your comments and feedback, and we want this to be a positive experience for the entire Illinois Farm Families community. While you’re with us, we hope you’ll take a moment to read the following guidelines we ask you to follow when contributing to our page. We don’t edit user comments, but we reserve the right to delete posts that are in conflict with our standards, including:

1. Don’t do anything that breaks the law – including compliance with all current Facebook terms and policies. We reserve the right to remove content in violation of a law or regulation.

2. Show respect and be polite, even if you disagree with someone else in the community. Excessive, foul and profane language, bullying or otherwise inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. We reserve the right to remove posts that are personal attacks, or are abusive, defamatory or obscene. We reserve the right to remove content that violates another person’s intellectual property rights, or that is linked to Web sites containing harmful or inappropriate content.

3. Keep the conversation relevant to the community and contribute constructively to the dialogue, keeping in mind the purpose of the page. We reserve the right to remove comments that are off-topic or out of context – as deemed necessary to foster a valuable dialogue for the community.

4. Avoid content about public or governmental policies. Because Illinois Farm Families is neither a lobbying nor policy-making organization and does not endorse any specific policy issues, please refrain from posting content relating to policy issues. We reserve the right to remove policy-related content.

5. Avoid spam and promotions. We reserve the right to remove spammed content and content that is commercial or advertising the sale or support of services or products.

6. Keep it real. All wall postings should come from a real person and Facebook profile. Postings from fake or anonymous profiles will be deleted.

7. Beyond this community. The Illinois Farm Families will not address comments and accusations against other companies. We strongly encourage you to visit the websites and pages of those companies to share your concerns directly with them. When you share content on our social pages, Illinois Farm Families reserves the right to use your name and any media, including photos, stories or videos, shared by you for social or any other marketing purpose. Support provided by the Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Farm Bureau®, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Soybean Association checkoff program and Midwest Dairy.

10/23/2026

It’s that time of year when porches across Illinois are filled with pumpkins, mums, and those classic golden bales. But before you call it a hay bale, take a closer look! 👀

Illinois farmer Jessica McCabe is here to clear up a common mix-up: the difference between straw and hay. While straw is often used for fall décor and livestock bedding, hay is a nutrient-rich feed that helps keep livestock healthy year-round.

Here’s a tip, check the color. Hay is typically green and made from freshly cut and dried grasses and legumes. Straw, on the other hand, is the golden-colored stalk left behind after grain crops like wheat are harvested.

👉Follow along as Jessica separates the hay from the straw and helps us bale-ieve there's more to these fall favorites than meets the eye!

You picked 'em. Now it's time to use ‘em.🍎 Good news is we’ve rounded up plenty of ways to make the most of fresh-picked...
10/21/2026

You picked 'em. Now it's time to use ‘em.🍎 Good news is we’ve rounded up plenty of ways to make the most of fresh-picked apples, including a roasted pork loin recipe that's packed with fall flavor.

Follow the link🔗 for 10 ways to make the most of apple season from savory dishes to healthy pork recipes and everything in between.
https://bit.ly/4eas3sn

10/19/2026

Every calf's story starts with care. On dairy farms like Natalie Berning's, newborn calves receive individual attention from the very beginning. From feeding colostrum, a cow’s milk after calving that is packed with nutrients and antibodies, to monitoring growth and wellness, dairy farmers take important steps to help gives calves a healthy start.

👉Follow along as Natalie shows us how she cares for calves on her farm.

10/16/2026

The combines are rolling, and harvest is underway in Illinois! Join Lance Muirheid as he climbs into the combine and shares a behind-the-scenes look at a busy day in the field. From sunrise to sunset, see what it takes to harvest crops in Illinois. 🚜🌽

10/14/2026

Illinois pig farmer Chad Bell is bringing home the bacon with a twist this Pork Month!🥓

When it comes to bacon, is there really such a thing as too much? We don't think so. Chad's simple trick helps you fit more bacon on the pan while cutting down on grease splatter. Just twist each slice, place them snugly on a baking sheet, and bake in the oven.

👉 Follow along as Chad shares his oven-baked bacon recipe that's crispy, easy, and sure to earn a spot in your regular breakfast rotation.

For three generations, the Leman family has built its farm near Eureka, Illinois, around hard work, thoughtful care, and...
10/08/2026

For three generations, the Leman family has built its farm near Eureka, Illinois, around hard work, thoughtful care, and a commitment to the future. Today, they raise pigs and grow corn and soybeans while caring for the land, livestock, and community they call home. The story of Leman Farms is a reminder that farming is about more than raising food. It's about family, teamwork, and leaving things better than they found them. 🐷

Follow the link to learn more about the Leman family story. 🔗
https://bit.ly/4AZdMc6

Sustainability isn't a new idea for beef farmers. For decades, Illinois farmers have long focused on stewardship, findin...
10/06/2026

Sustainability isn't a new idea for beef farmers. For decades, Illinois farmers have long focused on stewardship, finding ways to responsibly manage resources while continuing to raise quality beef.

Follow the link to learn about the practices helping make beef production more sustainable and environmentally friendly. 🔗
https://bit.ly/4hCYocg

The Dollingers know firsthand the value of growing up on a family farm. Today, they’re recreating the same farm memories...
10/02/2026

The Dollingers know firsthand the value of growing up on a family farm. Today, they’re recreating the same farm memories for their three daughters and other local families. Each fall, visitors can walk their pumpkin patch, explore the corn maze, and get a taste of life on the farm.

Tap the link 🔗 to meet the Dollinger family and get to know their story.
https://bit.ly/4yoJ0r3

10/01/2026

Sweet corn season doesn't have to end when summer does. Illinois farmer Jessica McCabe is sharing her process for freezing sweet corn and easy ways to recreate it in your own kitchen.

Watch as she shares her step-by-step approach and kitchen-friendly tips to preserve that summer sweetness all season. 🌽

09/30/2026

Spend a day in the life of Illinois beef farmer Rebecca Walker. Like many farmers, Rebecca starts her
day with a cup of coffee before heading out the door for her "day job." In Illinois, 49% of farmers also work off the farm, and Rebecca is one of them, balancing life as both a cattle farmer and a massage therapist.

Today, Rebecca and her family are checking heifers, young female cattle, to see if they'll have calves this year. To keep the cattle, their veterinarian, and family members safe and calm during the process, Rebecca and her husband, Tony, use a piece of equipment called a chute. Once the heifers are checked, it's time to tackle the daily chores and, of course, capture a beautiful Illinois sunset before the day is done.

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Bloomington, IL

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