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“We’re committed to doing a good job, because we were given the opportunity to do that, so we want that next generation to come back and farm and carry on that Scholl name.”

Brent Scholl
Hog Farmer

Name: Brent Scholl
Location: Polo, Illinois
Years farming: The home farm is a centennial farm, so it has been in the family for a long time, but I’ve been farming here for 31 years.
My family: My wife Kathy is a teacher. We’ve been married for 27 years and have two children. Our daughter Sam is a senior at Elmhurst College. Our son Garrett is a freshman at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville. My brother Bruce is my farming partner. He and his wife Julie have two sons, Matt and Scott. Matt is a sophomore at Illinois State University and wants to come back to farm as the sixth generation. Scott is a senior at Polo Community High School. My parents, Irv and LaVerne, live on the farm also. My dad is 78 and still feeds the cattle every day.
How I came to be a farmer: I went to Illinois State University, with plans of never coming back to the farm. By my junior year, I had changed my mind and rented 200 acres in partnership with my dad. When my brother graduated from ISU, we rented another 80 acres and started a partnership. My brother and I are still buying out my dad today as we have added acres and livestock. We look forward to the sixth generation coming back to farm just as we were given the chance to do.
The best thing about being a farmer: I like to see things grow and I like to work with livestock. I get to do different things each day.
My personal philosophy on farming: As the farm was passed down to us, I believe my brother and I need to leave the land in better condition than when we started farming it. As the past generation gave us a chance to farm, we owe that and should give that chance to the next generation.

Pork Production in Illinois and the United States

• There are approximately 2,900 hog farms in the state of Illinois.
• lllinois ranks fourth nationally in pork production, with 4.55 million hogs, which is equal to 1.84 billion pounds of pork annually.
• Clinton County leads the state in pork production with more than 263,000 hogs.
• The pork and grain farmers in the state work together a great deal. That's because about eight percent of the corn crop is fed to hogs as an important part of their diet.
• Approximately 7,800 jobs in the state of Illinois are related to the pork industry - those are your neighbors, and everybody from farmers to veterinarians, and feed suppliers to processors.
• Each year, the state's farmers, restaurants, chefs and bacon fans come together at BaconFest Chicago. There, they celebrate their love for bacon during what has been called "the greatest single culinary and cultural festival ever dedicated to bacon and bacon only."

For more information about hog farming in Illinois, visit Illinois Pork Producers Association.

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

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