On Tuesday, October 21, the Peoria County Farm Bureau Young Leaders sponsored a trip to Tanner’s Orchard and River Valley sites. Brimfield, Princeville, and Elmwood FFA chapters got a farm tour from Brenda Beaver at Tanner’s followed by tours of the River Valley location west of Tanners, and a tour of the River Valley Seed Shed on Route 40.
Special thanks to Tanner’s Orchard, River Valley Cooperative, FFA chapters, and Young Leaders that made this day possible.
Evelyn Powers is a third-generation farmer, continuing the legacy of her grandfather and mother. In addition to corn and soybean production, she expanded her operation in 2019 to include pigs.
A day on the Powers farm varies depending on the stage of production. When new piglets arrive, chores can last several hours as they receive feed containing necessary medications and vaccinations to guard against PRRS, E. coli, and strep. As the animals mature, care becomes less intensive, and their diet shifts primarily to corn. Prior to a new group entering the barn, facilities undergo a full cleaning and disinfection process, and equipment is carefully inspected.
Before raising pigs, Evelyn worked in the agriculture industry and notes she likely would still be in that position if she had not transitioned to full-time farming. However, she appreciates the flexibility that livestock production allows.
Evelyn also emphasizes the importance of accurate public understanding of livestock care. While some assume animals raised in barns (CAFOs) are uncomfortable, she explains that pigs are kept in a climate-controlled, clean environment with unlimited food and water. “Most of the time in the winter, the barn is warmer than my house,” she says. Pigs are highly social and thrive when housed with other pigs.
Through her work, Evelyn continues to demonstrate the dedication and care it takes to manage a family farm while also helping bridge the gap between agriculture and the general public.
About The Farmer Spotlight:
The Farmer Spotlight is an initiative to highlight the stories and educational efforts of local farmers. Through interviews and feature articles, we’ll showcase the knowledge, passion, and daily work that define agriculture in Peoria County.
The goal is to connect the community with the people behind the food to promote the educational side of farming through school involvement, on-farm learning, or simply sharing day-to-day experiences.
We’re looking for candidates to participate in this program. To be eligible, you must be a Peoria County Farm Bureau member. If you’re interested in sharing your story and helping others understand agriculture, we’d love to hear from you!
Rob Asbell’s family has farmed in Peoria County since the late 1800s, and today he runs a 5,000-acre grain farm known for its strong work ethic and commitment to the future of agriculture. With no livestock, his days vary—from cleaning grain bins to mowing waterways, planting, spraying, and harvesting. In a typical year, Rob plants 2,600 acres of soybeans in about two weeks and harvests the entire farm in roughly eight weeks.
Rob believes farming is about more than just the work—it’s about legacy. “Without legacy, a farm means nothing,” he says. That belief led him to serve on the Peoria County Farm Bureau board, Brimfield zoning board, and run for the Growmark board. He first joined Farm Bureau when Danny Maher stepped down as Millbrook Township representative.
He’s passionate about telling agriculture’s story honestly. “People don’t know what farmers really do,” Rob notes, citing misconceptions fueled by the media. He also wants to see more support for smaller farms, which lack access to the large equipment of bigger operations.
For young people entering agriculture, Rob stresses business skills over mechanics. He credits an Accounting 101 class at ICC for helping him understand the financial side of farming and encourages students to take accounting, business, shop, and basic life-skills courses. “Mechanics are only 2% of farming. Accounting and business are far more important,” he explains.
Looking ahead, Rob sees technology changing many industries but believes agriculture is secure. “Farmers still have to plant, harvest, and drive semis. Ag will always need human workers,” he says.
If he weren’t farming, Rob jokes he’d be a BBQ chef with a food truck. But his heart is firmly in agriculture. “Farming is my number one job; everything else comes second.”
About The Farmer Spotlight:
The Farmer Spotlight is an initiative to highlight the stories and educational efforts of local farmers. Through interviews and feature articles, we’ll showcase the knowledge, passion, and daily work that define agriculture in Peoria County.
The goal is to connect the community with the people behind the food to promote the educational side of farming through school involvement, on-farm learning, or simply sharing day-to-day experiences.
We’re looking for candidates to participate in this program. To be eligible, you must be a Peoria County Farm Bureau member. If you’re interested in sharing your story and helping others understand agriculture, we’d love to hear from you!
For 75-year-old Dave Copple, farming isn’t just an occupation — it’s a legacy. His family’s farm, located on Route 116 between Hanna City and Trivoli, has been in the family for 77 years. Originally a 200-acre farm, it was purchased in 1948 by Dave’s grandfather from a Peoria dentist for $300 an acre — a price that’s hard to imagine today, with land in the area selling for $11,000–$17,000 per acre.
The farm once bustled with hogs, dairy cattle, and sheep, but today, the only livestock are a few barn cats on mouse duty. Dave and his son now focus on hay production, growing alfalfa and orchard grass for horse customers across Peoria, Kewanee, and Galesburg. Customers appreciate the smaller, easier-to-handle 45–50 lb. square bales ($5–$8 each), though Dave also produces 1,500–1,600 lb. round bales for livestock.
If Dave could teach the public one thing about farming, it would be the dedication it takes to keep a farm neat and functional: mowing, cutting weeds, painting, and keeping buildings in shape — morning and night, seven days a week. “It’s not as easy as people think,” Dave says.
Before retiring, Dave worked for FS, selling feed, seed, and fertilizer to livestock producers across six counties — from Alpha to Lincoln. He’s a lifelong note-keeper, recording planting and harvest dates, purchases, and contacts in a small memo notebook. Outside of farming, Dave’s hobbies include collecting and selling farm toys, attending toy shows, and researching his family genealogy.
From the days of his father farming for the Wilkins family in 1948 to today’s modern hay and row crop operation, Dave Copple’s story is one of hard work, stewardship, and passion for agriculture — a living reminder that farms aren’t just fields and barns, but family legacies.
About The Farmer Spotlight:
The Farmer Spotlight is an initiative to highlight the stories and educational efforts of local farmers. Through interviews and feature articles, we’ll showcase the knowledge, passion, and daily work that define agriculture in Peoria County.
The goal is to connect the community with the people behind the food to promote the educational side of farming through school involvement, on-farm learning, or simply sharing day-to-day experiences.
We’re looking for candidates to participate in this program. To be eligible, you must be a Peoria County Farm Bureau member. If you’re interested in sharing your story and helping others understand agriculture, we’d love to hear from you!
Illinois Farm Bureau. (2025, April). “Illinois Farm Bureau saved my life.” Facebook.com.
UPDATE: Richard Carroll is now CANCER FREE!
Peoria County Farm Bureau
1716 N University St.
Peoria, IL 61604
(309) 686-7070
office@peoriacountyfarmbureau.org