Illinois Country Harvest is a sustainable, small, diverse farm located in southwestern Illinois, owned and operated by Jason & Jennifer Duensing. They grow heritage grains, including Rouge de Bordeaux wheat and Cherokee White Eagle corn. They also grow heirloom and native flowers, fruits, and vegetables and raise heritage pigs using all-natural, sustainable practices.
During the field day, the farmers gave tours of their small-scale grain fields and explained their all-natural growing practices, including seed saving, planting, harvesting, crop rotation, and cover cropping. They also discussed their crop selection and the market avenues for their grains. At the event, representatives from organizations such as The Artisan Grain Collaborative, Midwest Grit, and Les Amis du Fort de Chartres were present, offering valuable resources to Illinois Country Harvest and other small to midsize farmers interested in growing grains. Additionally, the farmers displayed antique farm equipment that they use on their farm to grow food-grade grains.