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Illinois Corn Farmer

Steve Ruh

“I take a lot of pride in being a good steward of the land.”

Steve Ruh
Corn Farmer

Name: Steve Ruh
Location: Sugar Grove, Illinois
Years farming: We’ve been farming for 15 years.
My family: My wife Elizabeth and I have three kids; Berlyn is five, Annika is three, and Sullivan is one.
How I came to be a farmer: I was raised on a farm and wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps. I was able to take over the grain operation on our family’s farm while pursuing more land on my own. In the early years, while I was building my business, I was able to supplement by taking other jobs. Eventually, I secured enough land to farm full-time.
The best thing about being a farmer: There are several aspects of farming that I appreciate. I enjoy being independent and being my own boss. The ability to provide for and raise a family in the farming lifestyle has been a huge blessing. Also, I take pride in knowing that we are making a significant contribution in the local, national and international communities.
My personal philosophy on farming: Treat the land with respect. I make decisions based on what is best for the land so that it’s protected and provides for this generation and generations to come.

Corn Production in Illinois and the United States
  • The corn you eat is called sweet corn, and different from most of what is grown, which is called field corn.
  • Sweet corn is harvested when it is immature and still in the "milk" stage, when the kernel is squishy, and is used primarily to feed people.
  • Field corn, on the other hand, has many different uses. It is used for animal feed, can be made into ethanol, and used as an ingredient in many of our favorite foods.
  • Illinois farmers planted 12.1 million acres of corn last year, which is a lot for one state. Only 7,000 of those acres were to sweet corn.
  • Illinois farmers raise 17 percent of the nation's corn crop, behind only Iowa. All of this corn was used for animal feed, ethanol, exports, and other items.
  • After it is harvested, it is usually stored at a local grain elevator or in the farm's bins, which holds the corn until it is ready for market.
  • Illinois produces enough corn each year to fill a train of box cars stretching more than 7,600 miles from here to Hong Kong.


For more information about corn farming in Illinois, visit the Illinois Corn Marketing Board.

 

Ask your questions or start a conversation with Illinois Farm Families at www.watchusgrow.org

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