Hobby Farms of Henderson County wins 2024 Conservation Farm Family of the Year

The state’s Soil & Water Conservation Districts honored three families who best live and demonstrate the conservation ethic and provide service to their communities through the 2024 Conservation Farm Family of the Year at the Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts’ MAGIC of Conservation Summer Training Conference & 76th Annual Meeting this week in Springfield. 

Each of the nominated families live the definition of conservation every day and carefully consider these concepts every time a decision is made concerning their farming operation.   

This year’s winners were Hobby Farms from Henderson County. 

The Hobby family operates a successful backgrounding cattle facility, feeding two turns of 400 calves per year to approximately 650 pounds. In 2019, Travis Hobby utilized EQIP funds to develop a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) and further implemented the plan in 2020. Over the next five years, they constructed several conservation structures, including a waste storage facility, concrete pit with roof covers, animal mortality facility, and roof runoff structures. They also closed four open feedlots and established various supporting practices like underground outlets, subsurface drains, critical area planting, and mulching. Nutrient management was applied to 394 acres, ensuring sustainable and effective use of manure. 

The Hobby family has a deep commitment to conservation and community service. Dave and Travis manage the crops and cattle, sharing tasks such as fertilizing, planting, and harvesting. Susan, with her 28 years of service as a school secretary, and Jennifer, who worked at the local nursing home until its closure in 2020, provide vital support by shuffling family members and bringing meals to the field. Their collective efforts have made the farm viable and sustainable, demonstrating a strong family bond and dedication to their farming operation. 

Travis reached out to his SWCD with concerns about nutrient transport, odors, plant productivity, ponding, flooding, and erosion. Solutions included constructing a waste storage facility and an animal mortality facility, closing open feedlots, and applying manure under a nutrient management plan. The farm has adopted no-till practices since the 1980s and strip-till since the 1990s, addressing erosion with various conservation methods. Cover crops now play a crucial role in preventing soil erosion and providing an alternative food source for the cattle. 

The Hobby family, with farms in both Henderson and Hancock counties, has a long history of community involvement and support for local organizations. Dave and Travis have volunteered as firefighters for LaHarpe, and they have both served on the Hancock County Cattleman’s Association and the Illinois State Beef Association. They are members of the American Bucking Bull Incorporated and Professional Bull Riders, raising rodeo stock bulls. Susan, now retired, was the school secretary for 28 years and remains active on the farm. Jennifer has been involved with the PTO board and the church nursery. 

Hobby Farms, a fifth-generation centennial farm, has evolved with the times, adapting conservation practices to maintain soil health and productivity. Travis’s construction of a cattle building through the EQIP Program allowed the farm to increase its cattle capacity, improve efficiency, and better utilize manure. The family has also constructed waterways, dry dams, structures, and terraces to combat soil erosion. Their conservation philosophy emphasizes maintaining and caring for their land to the best of their ability, ensuring its sustainability for future generations.

The Hobby family’s dedication to conservation and community service makes them a deserving recipient of the Farm Family of the Year Award. 

Other finalists were the Ruppert Family Farm of Perry County and the Griesemer Farm Family of Lawrence County.

Ruppert Family Farm

The Perry County Soil & Water Conservation District nominated the Ruppert family, who has made significant contributions to bettering their farm and community through dedicated conservation practices and community involvement. They have implemented water drainage systems benefiting pond management for cropland irrigation, practiced no-till farming for over 25 years, and extensively used cover crops like clovers, vetch, cereal rye, winter barley, and forage turnips for over a decade. These efforts have improved soil health, reduced chemical usage, and minimized equipment wear and tear. Their focus on soil health is evident with the abundance of earthworms found in their fields. 

The Ruppert family exemplifies teamwork, with three generations working together to implement best management practices, including drainage and buffer strips. They constantly seek and research innovative techniques to improve soil and water quality, with a particular emphasis on the value of cover crops. This collaborative approach ensures the viability and sustainability of their farming operation, demonstrating a strong family bond and commitment to conservation. 

Their farm serves as a community demonstration site for effective pollution abatement and environmental enhancement. The Ruppert family welcomes visits to showcase their pond management, irrigation capabilities, no-till practices, and cover crop benefits. Lonnie Ruppert, serving as an Associate Director of the Perry County Soil and Water Conservation District, actively promotes no-till and cover crops, acting as an ambassador for conservation practices in Perry County. 

When Lonnie and Melinda took over the family farm in 1973, they continued the tradition of using cover crops and have since expanded their use to include a variety of crops. The farm is now 100% no-till, resulting in fewer trips across the field and increased technology use. Strategic placement of water sources and ponds, along with the design of waterways, ensures efficient irrigation even during drought conditions. Tree and shrub plantings have improved wildlife habitat, and filter strips have stabilized creek banks. 

The Ruppert family’s dedication to conservation is evident in their numerous accomplishments and community involvement. Lonnie and Melinda were named the 2023 Perry County Conservation Farm Family of the Year. Melinda is an active member of the Perry County Home, Community, and Education (HCE). Their farm has participated in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), enhancing wildlife habitat with native trees and shrubs.

Griesemer Farm Family

The Lawrence County Soil & Water Conservation District nominated the Griesemer Farm Family for their outstanding contributions to soil and water conservation. The Griesemer family’s legacy began in 1921 when Cale’s great-grandfather purchased a 40-acre field, and over the generations, their farming techniques have evolved from chisel plowing to modern no-till practices with a strong emphasis on soil testing and nutrient management. Despite facing significant challenges with erosion and soil contamination from oil well leaks, Cale’s dedication and hard work have transformed the land, making a substantial difference in its structure and health. The farm, located in the heart of Lawrence County’s old oil country, now features terraces, tile systems, waterways, cover crops, and no-till practices to combat erosion effectively. 

Cale’s commitment to conservation is evident through his participation in various programs, including the Lawrence County SWCD PFC Programs, NRCS EQIP and CSP Programs, and the CRP Program. The Griesemer family has long been active supporters of local organizations such as 4-H, FFA, and the Farm Bureau. Both Cale and his father, Gary, have earned several recognitions as FFA members, and the family’s 4-H participation dates back to Cale’s father’s involvement in swine and rabbit shows. The Griesemers have been dedicated Farm Bureau members for four generations, and Gary served on the Soil and Water Conservation Board for over a decade during Cale’s childhood. This deep-rooted dedication to community and conservation is reflected in their farm’s sustainable practices and community support. 

The Griesemer Farm Family’s journey is a testament to their strong roots and family dedication. Cale’s great-grandfather, Adam Griesemer, started their Christy Township farm with a single 40-acre field in 1921. Over the years, the family expanded their operation to a 1600-acre farm that sustains the family today. The farm’s history is intertwined with Sarah’s family, who traded their rich farmland in Brown County, Ohio, for their current farm in Lukin Township, Illinois, in 1852. Each landlord and family member associated with the farm has a unique story, emphasizing the importance of roots and heritage in their farming journey. 

Cale and Sarah Griesemer have instilled the values of conservation and hard work in their children, Ryann and Jack, who are both pursuing their education in graphic design and agri-business, respectively. The entire family has contributed to the farm’s sustainability in various ways, from fieldwork to support tasks like bringing meals and designing business cards. This collective effort enriches their story and further develops the Griesemer Family Farm’s roots. The Griesemers’ conservation philosophy, “To leave the soil I am entrusted with better than when we found it,” exemplifies their commitment to preserving the land for generations to come.  

The state’s Soil & Water Conservation Districts congratulates Hobby Farms for winning this year’s award, and salutes the Griesemer and Ruppert farm families, as well as all the other families working to build soil health and clean Illinois’ waterways through their implementation of conservation agriculture practices. Winners were named at a banquet Tuesday July 16, 2024 at the AISWCD annual conference at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield.