Bloomington, Ill. – July 20, 2023 – More than 275 downstate Illinoisans got a closer look at an Illinois dairy farm earlier this month when the Clavin family, together with the Illinois Soybean Association and Midwest Dairy, hosted a “Taste of Farm Life” at their farm in Rosamond.
The event, held June 10, featured dedicated stations where attendees could take self-guided tours to learn more about the farm’s young animals, farm equipment, free-stall barn and milking parlor.
“I think a lot of people, when they think of modern farms, they think of big operations managed by companies but that’s just not the case,” said Claire Weinzierl, communications manager, Illinois Soybean Association. “Here in Illinois, 96 percent of farms are family-owned and operated and the Clavin dairy farm is no different.”
The Clavin family, parents Matthew and Diane, along with their grown children Leanne, Elizabeth, Annette and Joseph, milk about 200 cows on their fourth-generation southwestern Illinois dairy farm. They also raise beef cattle as well as corn, soybeans, wheat and hay.
“It’s really important for us, both as farmers and consumers, to open our farm gates for events like these,” said Leanne Clavin Casner, who manages the farm’s day-to-day operations. “There are just so many myths out there when it comes to dairying and farming in general. If we can help bust some of those myths so the families consuming our products have a better understanding of how our cattle are cared for and milk is produced, it’s a win for everyone.”
The event, which was free to attend, included a complimentary lunch and a few fun extras, including free soft-serve ice cream, straw bale toss, kids’ pedal tractor pull and face painting.
“We were so pleased to partner with the Illinois Soybean Association and the Clavin family to sponsor and put on this event,” said Kendra Anderson, Illinois farmer relations manager, Midwest Dairy. “Seeing so many families enjoying a beautiful day on the farm – and learning more about what Illinois farmers do to care for their animals and land – made for an excellent event.”
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) checkoff and membership programs represent more than 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois. The checkoff funds market development and utilization efforts while the membership program supports the government relations interests of Illinois soybean farmers at the local, state, and national level, through the Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG). ISA upholds the interests of Illinois soybean producers through promotion, advocacy, and education with the vision of becoming a market leader in sustainable soybean production and profitability. For more information, visit the website www.ilsoy.org and www.ilsoygrowers.com.
