Illinois Farm Families - Watch us grow

My first farm tour Let’s just say my basic knowledge of tilling the soil and raising livestock is limited to Old MacDonald, the Amish, and bottle-feeding calves on childhood petting farm field trips. But as a parent, I feel it’s my responsibility to pay more attention – to learn about the origins of the foods my family eats, and the processes that raise/grow/harvest them. What awaited me (on my first farm tour) was an amazing learnathon. Read more about Pilar's Farm Tour.

Ethanol

Ethanol - a biofuel mixed with much of the gasoline in the Midwest - is derived from corn.

Cattle feeding and nutrition

Cows have their own nutritionist on the Martz farm.

The scope of harvest

A combine on the Martz farm can harvest 12 rows of corn at a time, and hold up to 25,000 lbs. of corn.

Animal welfare is in the cattle farm's design

Noted animal behaviorist Dr. Temple Grandin's "squeeze boxes" can be found on the Martz farm.

Local food

The Ranch Steaks from Market Day come from a packing facility right in Aurora. Some of that meat might just be from the Martz farm!