Palatine woman wins day on the farm
Gloria Elliston of Palatine was surprised when she won a “family harvest day” prize in a sweepstakes sponsored by Illinois Farm Families. She brought along her grandson's family, including two great-grandchildren, when she redeemed the prize in early November at Larson Farms in Maple Park.
When registering for the sweepstakes, Elliston got to meet several Illinois Farm Families through online farm tour videos. She recognized her “family harvest day” hostess, Lynn Martz of Larson Farms, as one of the family farmers featured in the sweepstakes videos. Martz and her family raise beef cattle and grow soybeans, corn and wheat.
“As Illinois farmers, we're proud to share how we grow safe, healthy food for all our families — in the city or at home,” said Martz. “Now, it's exciting to actually meet one of the families who participated in the sweepstakes and introduce them to my family and farm.”
Elliston's family joined the Martzes for lunch before setting out to explore the farm and help finish up harvest. The Elliston family members rode the combine down one stretch of the field, and rode back in the grain cart, which is where the combine empties the grain. The Elliston family learned that some of the soybeans and corn they harvested will be used to feed the beef cattle.
The Martz family is one of the 94 percent of Illinois farms that are family farms. More information is at watchusgrow.org.