Moore Family Farm

Jim and Diann Moore, along with their 2 sons, own and operate a small family farm near Watseka, IL.  The farm has been in the family nearly 100 years.  They had a strong desire to farm and support their family on less than 100 acres (60 acres tillable).  The Moore family began their change to sustainable farming in the mid-1980’s by starting a vegetable garden and marketing their homegrown produce at local farmers markets.  As the years passed the garden grew and so did their customer base.

“We do not intend to become so large that we would have to hire employees.  We can not hire the same level of care, hard work, and commitment, that we have as a family working together to maintain our own family farm.”  -Moore Family

What do you enjoy most about farming?
What we enjoy the most about the type of farming that we do is that we are now part of our customer’s family – we are their farmers.  Many of our customers have watched our sons grow up; they have been supporting our family not only financially but also emotionally for over 20 years.

What do you find most challenging about being the farmer?
The rollercoaster that we must ride dealing with weather, the economy (fuel and feed cost) and trying to guess what will be wanted or needed the next growing season to have happy customers.

What do you grow or raise on your farm?
The Moore Family produces a 20-acre market garden for the Many thru December farmer’s market season.  They also raise seasonal grass-fed beef and lamb, (total grass fed/NO grain), pasture raised Tamworth pork, pasture raised goats, chicken, duck and turkeys and hens for free range eggs.  The Moore Family also owns and operates a Stone Mill producing stone ground corn meal and whole wheat flour and pastry flour.